you attacked this young man, whose life you had meanly sought, at a moment when he was unarmed, and with odds, which baffled his making resistance."

They attempted to justify their conduct, by observing, that they should degrade their birth and rank in society, by suffering themselves to be imposed on by a player, whom they considered so much beneath them. The Emperor said, "The player whom you affect to despise is a man of honour; but, as for you, you have acted like assassins, and, from this moment, I consider you unworthy to continue in my service; I shall therefore give orders for removing you from the army." The next day they were publicly degraded.

The whole of the above, nearly as I have written it, was inserted in all the public prints, and circulated throughout Germany.

I had the pleasure to hear from all quarters that the Emperor's decision was hailed as an act of justice; and the first night I afterwards appeared on the stage, I was received with repeated plaudits, which implied, I flattered myself, that the audience generally approved of my conduct.

I

The Carnival was now fast, approaching. informed Stephen Storace of the leave of absence I had obtained from the Emperor, and that I would accompany him and his sister, and mother, to London, at the close of the festival, and that he might

let the proprietors of Drury Lane know, that I should be ready to try my fortune at their theatre about the beginning of April, but that I would not stipulate for any fixed terms;-those, I told him, I would arrange upon my arrival in London, and I had no doubt but we should agree.

The Carnival was kept with more than common splendour. Vienna was crowded with foreigners of all nations, and a number of British, in addition to those I made mention of. The ridotto balls were fully attended, and all was revelry and pleasure. The English were particularly respected and beloved-but, alas! there were some halfdozen amongst them (who shall be nameless) who occasionally sacrificed to the jolly god, and, when heated with wine, would sally out into the street, and shew a great inclination to encourage the trade of lamp-mending, which, one night, they did so effectually, that they did not leave a lamp unbroken in the Grauben-street, or the street adjoining.

The art of lamp-smashing was not understood by the unaccomplished young men of Vienna, and great was their wonder and dismay that they should have lived so long in a state of ignorance; but the police, not wishing to have the science cultivated amongst their countrymen, intimated to the professors of the novel art that they

must pay for what they had demolished, or, upon a repetition of their valorous exploits, they should be sent to prison.

I was very sorry that the affair happened, although not more than half-a-dozen were concerned in it, for, with this exception, no set of gentlemen could have conducted themselves with greater propriety. It was understood, however, that the Emperor was very much displeased, and had given orders, that the first person found committing any breach of the peace, should be put into confinement.

Four days before my departure for England, a little contre-temps had nearly broken up our travelling arrangements. We were supping at the Ridotto Rooms, and my poor friend, Stephen Storace, who was proverbially a sober man, and who had a strong head for every thing but drinking, had swallowed potent libations of sparkling Champaigne, which rendered him rather confused. He went into the ball-room, and saw his sister dancing with an officer in uniform, booted and spurred. In twirling round while waltzing, his spurs got entangled in Storace's dress, and both she and the officer came to the ground, to the great amusement of the by-standers. Stephen, thinking his sister had been intentionally insulted, commenced personal hostilities against

the officer: a great bustle ensued, which was ended by half-a-dozen policemen seizing Storace, and dragging him to the Guard-house, to which several English gentlemen followed him. The officer of the guard was very good-natured, and allowed us to send for some eatables and Champaigne ;-we remained with him all night, and a jovial night we had. In the morning we departed, but Storace was obliged to tarry in durance vile till further orders. He was not however the least discomfited, he thought of the Italian proverb, as he told me,

"Non anderà sempre così; come diceva
Il piccolo cane, quando menava

Il rosto alla fine la carne sarà cuerta."

I was determined to make a bold push to get him released in the evening.-I placed myself in the corridor through which the Emperor passed after his dinner, to his study. He saw me, and said, "Why, O'Kelly, I thought you were off for England?"-" I can't go, Sire," was my answer; 66 my friend, who was to travel with me, was last night put into prison." I then told His Majesty who it was, and how it happened. He laughed at the tipsy composer's wanting to fight, and said, "I am very sorry for Storace, for he is a man of

great talent; but I regret to observe that some of your English gentry who travel, appear much altered from what they used to be. Formerly, they travelled after they had quitted College,-it appears to me that now they travel before they go to it." His Majesty then left me, saying, "Bon voyage, O'Kelly,—I shall give directions that Storace may be set at liberty."

I waited

The next morning he was liberated. upon my kind patron Sir Robert Keith; Marshals Lacy and Laudon, and all those friends who had honoured me with their hospitality and protection. I went to take leave of the immortal Mozart, and his charming wife and family; he gave me a letter to his father, Leopold Mozart, who was at the Court of Saltzbourg. I could hardly tear myself away from him, and, at parting, we both shed tears. Indeed, the memory of the many happy days which I passed at Vienna will never be effaced from my mind.

In the first week of February 1787, I quitted it with a heart full of grief and gratitude. Storace, her mother, her brother, Attwood, and myself, not forgetting Signora Storace's lap-dog, filled the travelling carriage, and with four horses we started for England Ho!

Were I to recount the desagrémens of a German journey, my task would be endless. I shall