Johann Sebastian Bach - booksnow.scholarsportal.info

272 JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH.give me notice of an opportunity with the remittance of a thaler, andit shall be forwarded at your desire. Finally, with salutations from usall, I remain,Your honour's devoted,J.S. BACH.P.S. My son in Berlin has now two male heirs ; the first born aboutthe time when we, alas! suffered the Prussian invasion, ^^ the other is14 days old.Addressed to Monsieur.Monsieur J. E. Bach,Chanteur et Inspecteur du Gymnase,p. I'occasion. a Schweinfourth.^'*Elias had been in personal intimacy with Sebastian duringhis student days in Leipzig, and was full of regard andgratitude for him. He gave expression to these feelings ina present which gave rise to another letter from Bach.Leipzig, November 2, 1748.Most worshipful and respected cousin,That you and your dear wife are still well, I was assured by yourgratifying letter received yesterday with the splendid little cask of newwine for which accept hereby my thanks, as due. It is, however, muchto be regretted that the little cask has suffered either from some jar inthe carriage of it or other accident, for after opening it in this placefor the usual inspection it was found almost a third part empty, andaccording to the report of the inspector now contains no more than 6kannen (quart or so) ; for indeed it is a pity that of so noble a gift ofGod the smallest drop should have been wasted. However, for thegood gift I have received from my worthy cousin I am heartily obliged,though I must pro nunc confess my inability, not being in a position totake any worthy revenge (make a worthy return). However, quoddijfcvtur Jion affertur, I hope to have an opportunity when I may insome way repay my debt. It is much to be regretted that the distancebetween our towns does not allow of our visiting each other in person ;would take the liberty of humbly inviting my respected cousin toelse Imy daughter Liessgen's wedding, which is to take place in the nextmonth of January, 1749, to the new organist of Naumburg, HerrAltnikol. But in consequence of the above-mentioned difficulty, andalso of the inconvenient season, I cannot allow myself to hope to seeyou with us in person ; I will only beg you, in your absence, to helpthem with your Christian good wishes, wherewith I beg to recommendB33November 30, 1745.5^ On a sheet quarto, only one page written on ; the seal is almost brokenaway.It belongs to Herr Schöne (Oberregierungsrath), of Berlin.