CHAP, i.] Early Recollections. 23 



Dietrich was despatched in the summer as soon as a 

 fitting escort could be found. 



" But what was yet more aggravating was, that the loss of 

 his company was supplied by a country cousin whom my 

 mother permitted to spend the summer with us in order to 

 have the advantage of my mother's advice in making prepara- 

 tion for her marriage. . . . This young woman, full of 

 good-nature and ignorance, grew unfortunately so fond of me 

 that she was for ever at my side, and by that means I lost 

 what little interval of leisure I might then have had for 

 reading, practising the violin, &c., entirely. Besides this, I 

 was extremely discomposed at seeing Alexander associating 

 with young men who led him into all manner of expensive 

 pleasures which involved him in debts for the hire of horses 

 and carioles, &c., and I was (though he knew my inability of 

 helping him) made a partaker in his fears that these scrapes 

 should come to the knowledge of our mother. 



" My time was, however, filled up pretty well with making 

 household linen, c., against Jacob's return. 



. . It was not, however, till the middle of the following 

 summer that we saw him again, and I suppose his stay must 

 have been prolonged on account of waiting till he had had 

 the honour of playing before their Majesties, for which (in 

 consequence of having composed and dedicated a set of .six 

 sonatas to the Queen) he was informed he would receive a 

 summons. . . . After this his salary was augmented 

 by 100 thalers,". and the promise of not being overlooked 

 in future. 



[NOTE. Before I leave this subject I cannot help remem- 

 bering the sacrifices these good people were making to 

 pride. They played nowhere for money, for even when 

 in 1768 (I think it was) the King's theatre was first 



