lain, ordered the whole corps dramatique to be discharged, and expelled Vienna forthwith. They repented their folly, but His Majesty would never hear more of them, and their audacity caused the introduction of an Italian opera at Vienna.

Count Durazzo read the letter containing this anecdote to a numerous party assembled at his house, who were much amused at it. His Excellency then asked me if I should like to go to Vienna; if I did, he would enlist me into the service. I thanked his Excellency, and answered that I should not desire better. The Countess Rosenberg kindly promised, that if I went there, she would give me some letters which might be of great service to me; and his Excellency desired me to consider of it for a day or two, and then return and bring my proposals to him. The term of my engagement with Count Vidiman having just expired, I mentioned to him the offer which had been made me, which he considered highly advantageous. Decided by this disinterested advice, I waited upon his Excellency the Ambassador, and concluded an engagement for one year, my salary being at the rate of 400 Venetian golden ducats (2007.); to be lodged free of expense, fuel found me, and four large wax candles per diem, which was the customary allowance. I signed the agreement with his Excellency, and was highly

contented with it, and thought myself most lucky in having made it. Madame Storace was also engaged, and the two best comic singers in Europe, Bennuci and Mandini.

When the time for my departure arrived, the Countess of Rosenberg gave me, as she had promised, a letter to her noble relative, the Grand Chamberlain; one to Prince Charles of Lichtenstein, Governor of Vienna, and one to Sir Robert Keith, His Britannic Majesty's Minister at Vienna. From Count Durazzo I had one for Grand Marshal Lacy, one for Marshal Laudon, and a third for the illustrious and witty Prince de Ligne; more powerful recommendations no young man perhaps could boast; and, as in my road to Vienna I had to pass through the city of Udina, my kind friend Count Vidiman gave me also a letter of introduction to the Countess his mother, as well as one to the Venetian Count Manini, both of whom resided at Udina.

Thus prepared, I set off from Venice in a calessetto, accompanied by my servant, for Udina; and it was with a heavy heart I quitted dear Italy, in which I had been so warmly patronised, and found such kindness and hospitality. I proceeded, however, on my journey, and alighted at a very comfortable inn, on the sign of which was written, in capital letters, "No trust to-day, but to-mor

row." I was a good deal amused at the flying promise, never to be fulfilled.

Udina is twenty-two leagues from Venice; the town is very neat and pretty, the suburbs particularly so; the language of the inhabitants is a Patois, a mixture of Italian, French, and German; the Venetians ridicule them for a singular mode they have of calling night, evening, and evening, night. When the Venetians speak of them, they say, "Gente cui si fa notte inanzi sera."-(i. e. People to whom night appears before evening.) I lost no time in delivering my credentials to the Countess Vidiman, and afterwards went to present my letter to Count Manini, who was residing at a magnificent country seat of his, called Pascan;-he made me quit my inn, and stay with him for a couple of days. He entertained me splendidly and hospitably, and, on my departure, ordered some delicious wine, made on his own estate, called Picolet, (the taste of which resembled Tokay, but less sweet,) to be put into my calessetto.

After a tedious journey, I arrived at Vienna, and put up at the sign of the White Ox; and, on the following morning, waited upon Signor Salieri, to deliver my letter of recommendation from Signor Bertoni. Salieri was a Venetian, and a scholar of the celebrated composer Guzman; Salieri, himself, indeed, was a composer of emi

nence.-He was Maestro di Cappella at the Court of Vienna, and a great favourite with the Emperor. He presided at the harpsichord at the theatre, and was sub-director under Prince Rosenberg, Grand Chamberlain of the Court. He was a little man, with an expressive countenance, and his eyes were full of genius. I have often heard Storace's mother say, he was extremely like Garrick. He received me politely, and informed me that his opera of "La Scuola dei Gelosi," was the first to be performed, in which I was to make my début. He accompanied me to the apartments which had been taken for me, and which consisted of an excellent first and second floor, elegantly furnished, in the most delightful part of Vienna. I was found, as usual, in fuel and wax candles, and a carriage to take me to rehearsals, and to and from the theatre, whenever I performed.

After having been duly installed in my new residence, I delivered all my recommendatory letters, and was delighted with the reception I met with, from those to whom they were addressed ; particularly from Marshals Laudon and Lacy, and Sir Robert Keith,-the affability of the last was highly flattering to my feelings. I was altogether delighted, and thought Vienna a delightful city, and a charming place of residence. In a fortnight after my arrival the theatre opened.

Storace and

Bennuci's receptions were perfectly enthusiastic, and I may perhaps be permitted to say, that I had no reason to complain of my own.

The Emperor, Joseph II. accompanied by his brother Maximilian, the Archbishop of Cologne, were present at the performance, and evinced their approbation by the applause they bestowed. At the period I speak of, the Court of Vienna was, perhaps, the most brilliant in Europe. The theatre, which forms part of the Royal Palace, was crowded with a blaze of beauty and fashion. All ranks of society were doatingly fond of music, and most of them perfectly understood the science. Indeed, Vienna then was a place where pleasure was the order of the day and night.

The women, generally speaking, are beautiful; they have fine complexions, and symmetrical figures, the lower orders particularly. All the servantmaids are anxious to shew their feet, (which are universally handsome,) and are very ambitious of having neat shoes and stockings. Vienna, in itself, then contained between 80,000 and 90,000 inhabitants, and is surrounded by fortifications, which served for pleasant walks ;—the ramparts are picturesquely beautiful. There are two Faubourgs at Vienna, which contain 170,000 inhabitants of all descriptions. That superb river, the Danube, borders the central town, and separates on