Gratuitous Musickal Posting - I

From a letter of Johann Sebastian Bach to his cousin J.E. Bach:

Leipzig, November 2, 1748

MOST NOBLE AND MOST ESTEEMED COUSIN,

That you and your dear wife are still well I am assured by the agreeable note I received from you yesterday accompanying the excellent little cask of wine you sent me, for which I send you herewith the thanks I owe you. It is, however, greatly to be regretted that the little cask was damaged, either by being shaken up in the wagon or in some other way, for when it was opened for the usual customs inspection here it was almost two-thirds empty, and according to the inspector's report contained no more than six quarts; and it is a pity that even the least drop of this noble gift of God should have been spilled. But, while I heartily congratulate my honoured Cousin on the rich vintage he has garnered, I must acknowledge my inability, nunc pro tunc, not to be in a position to make an appropriate return. But deferred is not cancelled, and I hope to have occasion to acquit my debt in some way.....

- JOH. SEB. BACH

P.S..... Although my honoured Cousin kindly offers to oblige with more of the liqueur, I must decline his offer on account of the excessive expenses here. For since the carriage charges cost 16 groschen, the delivery man 2 groschen, the customs inspector 2 groschen, the inland duty 5 groschen, 3 pfennig, and the general duty 3 groschen, my honoured Cousin can judge for himself that each quart costs me almost 5 groschen, which for a present is really too expensive.

That always cracks me up.