pianoforte sonata in A flat, that is, with 4 B flat minor,
with violin and violoncello, and also another piece, the fantasia in C,
without accompaniment, for these pieces are not yet published in London;
but be so good as not to mention this to Herr Artaria, or he might
anticipate the sale in England. I beg you will deduct the price from
the seven ducats. To return to the aforesaid symphonies, I must tell you
that I sent you a pianoforte arrangement of the andante in C minor by
Herr Diettenhofer. It is reported here, however, that he either died on
the journey, or met with some serious accident. You had better look
over both pieces at your leisure. The principal part of the letter I
entrusted to Herr Diettenhofer was the description of a Doctor's degree
being conferred on me at Oxford, and all the honours I then received. I
must take this opportunity of mentioning that three weeks ago the Prince
of Wales invited me to his brother's country seat. The Prince presented
me to the Duchess (a daughter of the King of Prussia), who received
me very graciously, and said many flattering things. She is the most
charming lady in the world, possesses much intelligence, plays the
piano, and sings very pleasingly. I stayed two days there, because on
the first day a slight indisposition prevented her having any music;
on the second day, however, she remained beside me from ten o'clock
at night, when the music began, till two hours after midnight. No
compositions played but Haydn's. I directed the symphonies at the piano.
The sweet little lady sat close beside me at my left hand, and hummed
all the pieces from memory, having heard them so repeatedly in Berlin.
The Prince of Wales sat on my right hand, and accompanied me very
tolerably on the violoncello. They made me sing too. The Prince of Wales
is having me painted just now, and the portrait is to be hung up in his
private sitting-room. The Prince of Wales is the handsomest man on
God's earth; he has an extraordinary love of music, and a great deal
of feeling, but very little money. Nota bene, this is entre nous. His
kindness gratifies me far more than any self-interest; on the third day,
as I could not get any post-horses, the Duke of York sent me two stages
with his own.

Now, dear lady, I should like to reproach you a little for believing
that I prefer London to Vienna, and find my residence here more
agreeable than in my fatherland. I am far from hating London, but I
could not rec