Giuseppe Tartini - Lettere e documenti / Pisma in dokumenti / Letters and Documents - Volume / Knjiga / Volume II

309 LETTERS of all the Grimani excellencies, so that they themselves can know and experience first- hand the foundation of the truth on the one hand, and on the other understand that Pettener’s main motive is anything but right. It was kindly answered by His Excellency Signor Lorenzo that on his part he shall always contribute to helping poor people to save expenses, and that he will gladly take an interest to this effect on the present occasion. This is what was answered to me, indeed said to me in person, by the man of religion (it is Padre Origo, confessor of the whole Grimani household). Now may you think about the quid agendum in this case; whether to carry on the dispute, or to come personally to Venice with the papers in hand to get the Most Excellent Grimani household to see and touch the truth. I embrace you most cordially, as I do all at home, and I am as ever your most affectionate brother Giuseppe Tartini 54. Tartini to Francesco Algarotti My good fortune has helped me to serve Your Most Illustrious Lordship well in your command. The six violins are ready and put in cases for the long journey. Among those six (all good) one is certainly by Stainer, and another one more likely to be by Stainer than by another maker. The expense (including the travel case and protection of the case) is forty-one zecchini in total: a little money is lacking. In such transactions, precision is impossible, at the most for what could be given for one violin or two: it cannot be given for six. Furthermore, it was a stroke of luck (as has happened in the present case) to find a batch of twelve violins which are all good, and to find it in the hands of a patron of mine, who allowed me the choice and the price I set. Therefore, I honestly maintain that the intrinsic value of the six violins amounts to much more than the price given. Hence, I have the comfort of being sure of having served Your Most Illustrious Lordship well. What remains to be done now is to duly give the commission to Signor Hasse, 36 so that he receives the case and pays the money, since I hitherto do not know whether the aforementioned has received any commission whatsoever. Signor Dottor Bresciani, 37 who conveys to you his most cordial regards, has begun printing your work; and the choice of the material, paper and characters matches the dignity of the work. The printing will be carried out this same month, and he requires nothing further for its completion, if not Your Most Illustrious Lordship’s 36 The composer Johann Adolf Hasse (1699-1783) was then in Dresden, like Algarotti. 37 Gregorio Bressani (1703-1771), a philosopher from Treviso.