ould
have to be obtained; and, besides all this, he was engaged on various
commissions, notably some for the King of Naples, which were probably a
burden on his conscience. His friends, again, do not appear to have been
very enthusiastic about the projected visit. There were Dittersdorf and
Albrechtsberger, and Dr Leopold von Genzinger, the prince's physician,
and Frau von Genzinger, whose tea and coffee he so much appreciated, and
who sent him such excellent cream. Above all, there was Mozart--"a man
very dear to me," as Haydn himself said.

Mozart and Haydn

He had always greatly revered Mozart. Three years before this he wrote:
"I only wish I could impress upon every friend of mine, and on great men
in particular, the same deep musical sympathy and profound appreciation
which I myself feel for Mozart's inimitable music; then nations would
vie with each other to possess such a jewel within their frontiers. It
enrages me to think that the unparalleled Mozart is not yet engaged at
any Imperial Court! Forgive my excitement; I love the man so dearly."
The regard was reciprocal. "Oh, Papa," exclaimed Mozart, when he heard
of Haydn's intention to travel, "you have had no education for the wide,
wide world, and you speak too few languages." It was feelingly said, and
Haydn knew it. "My language," he replied, with a smile, "is understood
all over the world." Mozart was really concerned at the thought of
parting with his brother composer, to whom he stood almost in the
relation of a son. When it came to the actual farewell, the tears sprang
to his eyes, and he said affectingly: "This is good-bye; we shall never
meet again." The words proved prophetic. A year later, Mozart was thrown
with a number of paupers into a grave which is now as unknown as the
grave of Moliere. Haydn deeply lamented his loss; and when his thoughts
came to be turned homewards towards the close of his English visit his
saddest reflection was that there would be no Mozart to meet him. His
wretched wife had tried to poison his mind against his friend by writing
that Mozart had been disparaging his genius. "I cannot believe it," he
cried; "if it is true, I will forgive him." It was not true, and Haydn
never believed it. As late as 1807 he burst into tears when Mozart's
name was mentioned, and then, recovering himself, remarked: "Forgive me!
I must ever weep at the name of my Mozart."

Terms for London

But to return. Salomon at length carried the day, an