went to London, passing through Paris where he formed relations which were soon to bring him back to that city. Rossini was to write for the Italian theatre at London an opera entitled _la Figlia dell'aria_; he had composed the first act, when the direction of the theatre failed, and the project was abandoned. However, his trip to England was far from being unfruitful of results. Sought after by the highest society, encouraged in every way, received at court, Rossini, during his five months stay at London where he excited the liveliest enthusiasm, was able to realize from the concerts and lessons which he gave with his wife, about 200,000 francs, which was the basis of his future fortune. At the same time, through the intervention of the French ambassador in England, he signed an engagement with the minister of the royal house, by which he accepted the direction of the Théâtre-Italien of Paris at a salary of 20,000 francs per year, without prejudice to the author's rights in the works which he might wish to write for that theatre or for the Opéra. Rossini found in France the same enthusiastic welcome which had been given him in England. He composed first a little Italian opera called _il Viaggio a Reims_, which was performed on the occasion of the fêtes given in that city for the coronation of King Charles X. He next occupied himself with transforming for the French stage two of his best Italian works, _Maometto II._ which became at the Opéra _le Siège de Corinthe_, and _Mosé in Egitto_, which was performed at that theatre under the title of _Moïse_. In passing from one tongue to the other, these two works were subject to much remodelling from the hand of the composer. He changed parts of them, added to them, strove to render the declamation more clear and precise, finally forced himself to adapt his inspiration to the necessities of the French stage and of the musical genius of that country. Success crowned his efforts, and in the face of that success, Rossini dreamed of writing a great new work expressly for the Opéra. But first he brought out at that theatre a pretty little opera in two acts, _le Comte Ory_, which was received with great applause, and in which he had embodied some fragments of the _Viaggio a Reims_. [Illustration: ROSSINI ON HIS DEATH BED. Reproduction of Gustave Doré's celebrated picture, from photograph at the Paris Opera.]