BEETHOVEN’S LETTERS.

(1790–1826.)

FROM THE COLLECTION OF DR. LUDWIG NOHL.

ALSO HIS

LETTERS TO THE ARCHDUKE RUDOLPH, CARDINAL-ARCHBISHOP
OF OLMÜTZ, K.W., FROM THE COLLECTION OF DR.
LUDWIG RITTER VON KÖCHEL.

TRANSLATED BY
LADY WALLACE.

WITH A PORTRAIT AND FAC-SIMILE.

IN TWO VOLUMES.

VOL. I.

BOSTON:

OLIVER DITSON & CO., 277 WASHINGTON STREET.

NEW YORK: C.H. DITSON & CO.

TRANSLATOR’S PREFACE.

Since undertaking the translation of Dr. Ludwig
Nohl’s valuable edition of “Beethoven’s Letters,”
an additional collection has been published by Dr.
Ludwig Ritter von Köchel, consisting of many
interesting letters addressed by Beethoven to his
illustrious pupil, H.R.H. the Archduke Rudolph,
Cardinal-Archbishop of Olmütz. These I have
inserted in chronological order, and marked with
the letter K., in order to distinguish them from the
correspondence edited by Dr. Nohl. I have only
omitted a few brief notes, consisting merely of
apologies for non-attendance on the Archduke.

The artistic value of these newly discovered
treasures will no doubt be as highly appreciated in
this country as in the great maestro’s Father-land.

I must also express my gratitude to Dr. Th.G. v. Karajan,
for permitting an engraving to be made
expressly for this work, from an original Beethoven
portrait in his possession, now for the first time
given to the public. The grand and thoughtful
countenance forms a fitting introduction to letters
so truly depicting the brilliant, fitful genius of the
sublime master, as well as the touching sadness and
gloom pervading his life, which his devotion to Art
alone brightened, through many bitter trials and
harassing cares.

The love of Beethoven’s music is now become
so universal in England, that I make no doubt his
Letters will receive a hearty welcome from all those
whose spirits have been elevated and soothed by
the genius of this illustrious man.

GRACE WALLACE.

AINDERBY HALL, March 28, 1866.

PREFACE

BY DR. LUDWIG NOHL

TO THE

LETTERS OF LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN.

In accompanying the present edition of the Letters
of Ludwig van Beethoven with a few introductory
remarks, I at once acknowledge that the
compilation of these letters has cost me no slight
sacrifices. I must also, however, mention that an
unexpected Christmas donation, generously bestowed
on me with a view to further my efforts to
promote the science of music, enabled me to undertake
one of the journeys necessary for my purpose,
and also to complete the revision of the Letters
and of the press, in the milder air and repose of a
country residence, long since recommended to me
for the restoration of my health, undermined by
overwork.

That, in spite of every effort, I have not succeeded
in seeing the original of each letter, or even
discovering the place where it exists, may well be
excused, taking into consideration the slender capabilities
of an individual, and the astonishing manner
in which Beethoven’s Letters are dispersed all
over the world. At the same time, I must state
that not only have the hitherto inaccessible treasures
of Anton Schindler’s “Beethoven’s Nachlass”
been placed at my disposal, but also other letters
from private sources, owing to various happy
chances, and the kindness and complaisance of
collectors of autographs. I know better, however,
than most people–being in a position to do so–that
in the present work there can be no pretension
to any thing approaching to a complete collection of
Beethoven’s Letters. The master, so fond of writing,
though he often rather amusingly accuses himself
of being a lazy correspondent, may very probably
have sent forth at least double the amount of
the letters here given, and there is no doubt whatever
that a much larger number are still extant in
the originals. The only thing that can be done at
this moment, however, is to make the attempt to
bring to light, at all events, the letters that could
be discovered in Germany. The mass of those
which I gradually accumulated, and now offer to
the public (with the exception of some insignificant
notes), appeared to me sufficiently numerous and
important to interest the world, and also to form a
substantial nucleus for any letters that may hereafter
be discovered. On the other hand, as many
of Beethoven’s Letters slumber in foreign lands,
especially in the unapproachable cabinets of curiosities
belonging to various close-fisted English collectors,
an entire edition of the correspondence
could only be effected by a most disproportionate
outlay of time and expense.

When revising the text of the Letters, it seemed
to me needless perpetually to impair the pleasure
of the reader by retaining the mistakes in orthography;
but enough of the style of writing of that
day is adhered to, to prevent its peculiar charm being
entirely destroyed. Distorted and incorrect as
Beethoven’s mode of expression sometimes is, I
have not presumed to alter his grammar, or rather
syntax, in the smallest degree: who would presume
to do so with an individuality which, even amid
startling clumsiness of style, displays those inherent
intellectual powers that often did violence to language
as well as to his fellow-men? Cyclopean
masses of rock are here hurled with Cyclopean
force; but hard and massive as they are, the man
is not to be envied whose heart is not touched by
these glowing fragments, flung apparently at random
right and left, like meteors, by a mighty intellectual
being, however perverse the treatment language
may have received from him.

The great peculiarity, however, in this strange
mode of expression is, that even such incongruous
language faithfully reflects the mind of the man
whose nature was of prophetic depth and heroic
force; and who that knows anything of the creative
genius of a Beethoven can deny him these
attributes?

The antique dignity pervading the whole man,
the ethical contemplation of life forming the basis
of his nature, prevented even a momentary wish
on my part to efface a single word of the oft-recurring
expressions so painfully harsh, bordering
on the unaesthetic, and even on the repulsive, provoked
by his wrath against the meanness of men.
In the last part of these genuine documents, we
learn with a feeling of sadness, and with almost a
tragic sensation, how low was the standard of moral
worth, or rather how great was the positive unworthiness,
of the intimate society surrounding the
master, and with what difficulty he could maintain
the purity of the nobler part of his being in such
an atmosphere. The manner, indeed, in which he
strives to do so, fluctuating between explosions of
harshness and almost weak yieldingness, while striving
to master the base thoughts and conduct of
these men, though never entirely succeeding in doing
so, is often more a diverting than an offensive
spectacle. In my opinion, nevertheless, even this
less pleasing aspect of the Letters ought not to be in
the slightest degree softened (which it has hitherto
been, owing to false views of propriety and morality),
for it is no moral deformity here displayed.
Indeed, even when the irritable master has recourse
to expressions repugnant to our sense of conventionality,
and which may well be called harsh and
rough, still the wrath that seizes on our hero is a
just and righteous wrath, and we disregard it, just
as in Nature, whose grandeur constantly elevates
us above the inevitable stains of an earthly soil.
The coarseness and ill-breeding, which would claim
toleration because this great man now and then
showed such feelings, must beware of doing so, being
certain to make shipwreck when coming in contact
with the massive rock of true morality on
which, with all his faults and deficiencies, Beethoven’s
being was surely grounded. Often, indeed,
when absorbed in the unsophisticated and genuine
utterances of this great man, it seems as if these
peculiarities and strange asperities were the results
of some mysterious law of Nature, so that we are
inclined to adopt the paradox by which a wit once
described the singular groundwork of our nature,–“The
faults of man are the night in which he rests
from his virtues.”

Indeed, I think that the lofty morality of such
natures is not fully evident until we are obliged to
confess with regret, that even the great ones of the
earth must pay their tribute to humanity, and
really do pay it (which is the distinction between
them and base and petty characters), without being
ever entirely hurled from their pedestal of dignity
and virtue. The soul of that man cannot fail to
be elevated, who can seize the real spirit of the
scattered pages that a happy chance has preserved
for us. If not fettered by petty feelings, he will
quickly surmount the casual obstacles and stumbling-blocks
which the first perusal of these Letters
may seem to present, and quickly feel himself transported
at a single stride into a stream, where a
strange roaring and rushing is heard, but above
which loftier tones resound with magic and exciting
power. For a peculiar life breathes in these lines;
an under-current runs through their apparently unconnected
import, uniting them as with an electric
chain, and with firmer links than any mere coherence
of subjects could have effected. I experienced
this myself, to the most remarkable degree, when I
first made the attempt to arrange, in accordance
with their period and substance, the hundreds of
individual pages bearing neither date nor address,
and I was soon convinced that a connecting text
(such as Mozart’s Letters have, and ought to have)
would be here entirely superfluous, as even the best
biographical commentary would be very dry work,
interrupting the electric current of the whole, and
thus destroying its peculiar effect.

And now, what is this spirit which, for an intelligent
mind, binds together these scattered fragments
into a whole, and what is its actual power?
I cannot tell; but I feel to this day just as I felt
to the innermost depths of my heart in the days
of my youth when I first heard a symphony of
Beethoven’s,–that a spirit breathes from it bearing
us aloft with giant power out of the oppressive
atmosphere of sense, stirring to its inmost recesses
the heart of man, bringing him to the full consciousness
of his loftier being, and of the undying within
him. And even more distinctly than when a new
world was thus disclosed to his youthful feelings is
the man fully conscious that not only was this a
new world to him, but a new world of feeling in
itself, revealing to the spirit phases of its own,
which, till Beethoven appeared, had never before
been fathomed. Call it by what name you will,
when one of the great works of the sublime master
is heard, whether indicative of proud self-consciousness,
freedom, spring, love, storm, or battle, it
grasps the soul with singular force, and enlarges
the laboring breast. Whether a man understands
music or not, every one who has a heart beating
within his breast will feel with enchantment that
here is concentrated the utmost promised to us by
the most imaginative of our poets, in bright visions
of happiness and freedom. Even the only great
hero of action, who in those memorable days is
worthy to stand beside the great master of harmony,
having diffused among mankind new and
priceless earthly treasures, sinks in the scale when
we compare these with the celestial treasures of a
purified and deeper feeling, and a more free, enlarged,
and sublime view of the world, struggling
gradually and distinctly upwards out of the mere
frivolity of an art devoid of words to express itself,
and impressing its stamp on the spirit of the age.
They convey, too, the knowledge of this brightest
victory of genuine German intellect to those for
whom the sweet Muse of Music is as a book with
seven seals, and reveal, likewise, a more profound
sense of Beethoven’s being to many who already,
through the sweet tones they have imbibed, enjoy
some dawning conviction of the master’s grandeur,
and who now more and more eagerly lend a listening
ear to the intellectual clearly worded strains so
skilfully interwoven, thus soon to arrive at the full
and blissful comprehension of those grand outpourings
of the spirit, and finally to add another bright
delight to the enjoyment of those who already
know and love Beethoven. All these may be regarded
as the objects I had in view when I undertook
to edit his Letters, which have also bestowed
on myself the best recompense of my labors, in the
humble conviction that by this means I may have
vividly reawakened in the remembrance of many
the mighty mission which our age is called on to
perform for the development of our race, even in
the realm of harmony,–more especially in our
Father-land.

LUDWIG NOHL.

LA TOUR DE PERLZ–LAKE OF GENEVA,
March, 1865.

CONTENTS OF VOLUME I.

FIRST PART.

LIFE’S JOYS AND SORROWS
1783-1816.

1. To the Elector of Cologne, Frederick Maximilian.
2. To Dr. Schade, Augsburg
3. To the Elector Maximilian Francis
4. To Eleonore von Breuning, Bonn
5. To the Same
6. To Herr Schenk
7. To Dr. Wegeler, Vienna
8. To the Same
9. Lines written in the Album of L. von Breuning
10. To Baron Zmeskall von Domanowecz
11. Ukase to Zmeskall, Schuppanzigh, and Lichnowsky
12. To Pastor Amenda, Courland
13. To the Same
14. To Wegeler
15. To Countess Giulietta Guicciardi
16. To Matthisson
17. To Frau Frank, Vienna
18. To Wegeler
19. To Kapellmeister Hofmeister, Leipzig
20. To the Same
21. To the Same
22. To the Same
23. Dedication to Dr. Schmidt
24. To Ferdinand Ries
25. To Herr Hofmeister, Leipzig
26. To Carl and Johann Beethoven
27. Notice
28. To Ferdinand Ries
29. To Herr Hofmeister, Leipzig
30. Caution
31. To Ries
32. To the Same
33. To the Same
34. To the Same
35. To the Composer Leidesdorf, Vienna
36. To Ries
37. To the Same
38. To the Same
39. To Messrs. Artaria & Co.
40. To Princess Liechtenstein
41. To Herr Meyer
42. Testimonial for C. Czerny
43. To Herr Röckel
44. To Herr Collin, Court Secretary and Poet
45. To Herr Gleichenstein
46. To the Directors of the Court Theatre
47. To Count Franz von Oppersdorf
48. Notice of a Memorial to the Archduke Rudolph, Prince Kinsky,
    and Prince Lobkowitz
49. Memorial to the Same
50. To Zmeskall
51. To Ferdinand Ries
52. To Zmeskall
53. To the Same
54. To the Same
55. To the Same
56. To the Same
57. To the Same
58. To the Same
59. To Freiherr von Hammer-Purgstall
60. To the Same
61. To Baroness von Drossdick
62. To Mdlle. de Gerardi
63. To Zmeskall
64. To Wegeler
65. To Zmeskall
66. To Bettina Brentano
67. To the Same
68. To Zmeskall
69. To the Same
70. To the Archduke Rudolph
71. To a Dear Friend
72. To the Dramatic Poet Treitschke
73. To Zmeskall
74. To the Same
75. To the Same
76. To the Same
77. To the Same
78. To the Same
79. To the Same
80. To Kammerprocurator Varenna, Gratz
81. To Zmeskall
82. To the Same
83. To Varenna, Gratz
84. To Zmeskall
85. To Varenna
86. To Archduke Rudolph
87. To the Same
88. To Varenna, Gratz
89. To Joseph Freiherr von Schweiger
90. To Varenna, Gratz
91. Lines written in the Album of Mdme. Auguste Sebald
92. To Archduke Rudolph
93. To Bettina von Arnim
94. To Princess Kinsky
95. To Archduke Rudolph
96. To the Same
97. To the Same
98. To Princess Kinsky
99. To the Same
100. To Zmeskall
101. To Herr Joseph Varenna, Gratz
102. To the Same
103. To Zmeskall
104. To the Same
105. To the Same
106. To the Same
107. To the Same
108. To the Same
109. To the Same
110. To Archduke Rudolph
111. To the Same
112. To the Same
113. To Freiherr Josef von Schweiger
114. To Herr von Baumeister
115. To Zmeskall
116. Letter of Thanks
117. To the Archduke Rudolph
118. To the Same
119. To the Same
120. To Treitschke
121. To the Same
122. To the Same
123. To Count Lichnowsky.
124. To the Same
125. To the Archduke Rudolph
126. To the Same
127. Deposition
128. To Dr. Kauka, Prague.
129. Address and Appeal to London Artists
130. To Dr. Kauka
131. To Count Moritz Lichnowsky
132. To the Archduke Rudolph
133. To the Same
134. To the Same
135. To the Same
136. To the Same
137. To the Same
138. To the Same
139. To the Same
140. To Dr. Kauka
141. To the Same
142. To the Same
143. To the Members of the Landrecht
144. To Baron von Pasqualati
145. To Dr. Kauka
146. To the Archduke Rudolph

SECOND PART.

LIFE’S MISSION.
1815-1822.

1. Music written in Spohr’s Album
2. To Dr. Kauka
3. To the Same
4. To the Same
5. To Mr. Salomon, London
6. To the Archduke Rudolph
7. To the Same
8. To the Same
9. To the Same
10. To the Same
11. To the Same
12. To Mr. Birchall, Music Publisher, London
13. To Zmeskall
14. To the Archduke Rudolph
15. To Messrs. Birchall, London
16. To Herr Ries
17. To Zmeskall
18. To Mdlle. Milder-Hauptmann
19. To Ries
20. To Mr. Birchall, London
21. To Czerny
22. To the Same
23. To Ries, London
24. To Giannatasio del Rio, Vienna
25. To the Same
26. To the Same
27. To the Same
28. To Ferdinand Ries, London
29. To the Same
30. Power of Attorney
31. To Ferdinand Ries
32. To Giannatasio del Rio
33. To the Same
34. To the Archduke Rudolph
35. To Mr. Birchall London
36. To the Same
37. To Giannatasio del Rio
38. To the Same
39. To Zmeskall
40. To Dr. Kauka
41. Query
42. To Giannatasio del Rio
43. To the Same
44. To Wegeler
45. To Mr. Birchall, London
46. To Zmeskall
47. To the Archduke Rudolph
48. To Freiherr von Schweiger
49. To Giannatasio del Rio
50. To the Same
51. To the Same
52. To the Same
53. To Herr Tschischka
54. To Mr. Birchall
55. To Zmeskall
56. To Frau von Streicher
57. To the Same
58. To the Same
59. To the Same
60. To the Same
61. To the Archduke Rudolph
62. To Giannatasio del Rio
63. To the Same
64. To the Same
65. To Hofrath von Mosel
66. To S.A. Steiner, Music Publisher, Vienna
67. To the Same
68. To the Same
69. To Zmeskall

FIRST PART.

LIFE’S JOYS AND SORROWS.
1783 TO 1815.

1.
TO THE ELECTOR OF COLOGNE, FREDERICK MAXIMILIAN.^[1]

ILLUSTRIOUS PRINCE,–

Music from my fourth year has ever been my
favorite pursuit. Thus early introduced to
the sweet Muse, who attuned my soul to pure harmony,
I loved her, and sometimes ventured to
think that I was beloved by her in return. I have
now attained my eleventh year, and my Muse often
whispered to me in hours of inspiration,–Try to
write down the harmonies in your soul. Only
eleven years old! thought I; does the character of
an author befit me? and what would more mature
artists say? I felt some trepidation; but my Muse
willed it–so I obeyed, and wrote.

May I now, therefore, Illustrious Prince, presume
to lay the first-fruits of my juvenile labors at the
foot of your throne? and may I hope that you will
condescend to cast an encouraging and kindly
glance on them? You will; for Art and Science
have ever found in you a judicious protector and a
generous patron, and rising talent has always prospered
under your fostering and fatherly care. Encouraged
by this cheering conviction, I venture to
approach you with these my youthful efforts. Accept
them as the pure offering of childlike reverence,
and graciously vouchsafe to regard with indulgence
them and their youthful composer,

LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN.

2.
TO DR. SCHADE,–AUGSBURG.

Bonn, 1787. Autumn.

MY MOST ESTEEMED FRIEND,–

I can easily imagine what you must think of me,
and I cannot deny that you have too good grounds
for an unfavorable opinion. I shall not, however,
attempt to justify myself, until I have explained to
you the reasons why my apologies should be accepted.
I must tell you that from the time I left
Augsburg^[1] my cheerfulness, as well as my health,
began to decline; the nearer I came to my native
city, the more frequent were the letters from my
father, urging me to travel with all possible speed,
as my mother’s health was in a most precarious condition.
I therefore hurried forwards as fast as I could,
although myself far from well. My longing once
more to see my dying mother overcame every obstacle,
and assisted me in surmounting the greatest
difficulties. I found my mother indeed still alive,
but in the most deplorable state; her disease was
consumption, and about seven weeks ago, after
much pain and suffering, she died [July 17]. She
was indeed a kind, loving mother to me, and my
best friend. Ah! who was happier than I, when I
could still utter the sweet name of mother, and it
was heard? But to whom can I now say it?
Only to the silent form resembling her, evoked by
the power of imagination. I have passed very few
pleasant hours since my arrival here, having during
the whole time been suffering from asthma, which
may, I fear, eventually turn to consumption; to this
is added melancholy,–almost as great an evil as
my malady itself. Imagine yourself in my place,
and then I shall hope to receive your forgiveness for
my long silence. You showed me extreme kindness
and friendship by lending me three Carolins in
Augsburg, but I must entreat your indulgence for
a time. My journey cost me a great deal, and I
have not the smallest hopes of earning anything
here. Fate is not propitious to me in Bonn. Pardon
my intruding on you so long with my affairs,
but all that I have said was necessary for my own
justification.

I do entreat you not to deprive me of your valuable
friendship; nothing do I wish so much as in
any degree to become worthy of your regard. I
am, with all esteem, your obedient servant and
friend,

L. V. BEETHOVEN,
Cologne Court Organist.

3.
TO THE ELECTOR MAXIMILIAN FRANCIS.^[1]

1793.

MOST ILLUSTRIOUS AND GRACIOUS PRINCE,–

Some years ago your Highness was pleased to
grant a pension to my father, the Court tenor Van
Beethoven, and further graciously to decree that
100 R. Thalers of his salary should be allotted to
me, for the purpose of maintaining, clothing, and
educating my two younger brothers, and also defraying
the debts incurred by our father. It was my
intention to present this decree to your Highness’s
treasurer, but my father earnestly implored me to
desist from doing so, that he might not be thus publicly
proclaimed incapable himself of supporting his
family, adding that he would engage to pay me the
25 R.T. quarterly, which he punctually did. After
his death, however (in December last), wishing to
reap the benefit of your Highness’s gracious boon,
by presenting the decree, I was startled to find that
my father had destroyed it.

I therefore, with all dutiful respect, entreat your
Highness to renew this decree, and to order the
paymaster of your Highness’s treasury to grant me
the last quarter of this benevolent addition to my
salary (due the beginning of February). I have
the honor to remain,

Your Highness’s most obedient and faithful servant,

LUD. V. BEETHOVEN,
Court Organist.

4.
TO ELEONORE VON BREUNING,–BONN.

Vienna, Nov. 2, 1793.

MY HIGHLY ESTEEMED ELEONORE, MY DEAREST FRIEND,–

A year of my stay in this capital has nearly
elapsed before you receive a letter from me, and
yet the most vivid remembrance of you is ever
present with me. I have often conversed in thought
with you and your dear family, though not always
in the happy mood I could have wished, for that
fatal misunderstanding still hovered before me, and
my conduct at that time is now hateful in my sight.
But so it was, and how much would I give to have
the power wholly to obliterate from my life a mode
of acting so degrading to myself, and so contrary to
the usual tenor of my character!

Many circumstances, indeed, contributed to estrange
us, and I suspect that those tale-bearers who
repeated alternately to you and to me our mutual
expressions were the chief obstacles to any good
understanding between us. Each believed that
what was said proceeded from deliberate conviction,
whereas it arose only from anger, fanned by others;
so we were both mistaken. Your good and noble
disposition, my dear friend, is sufficient security
that you have long since forgiven me. We are
told that the best proof of sincere contrition is to
acknowledge our faults; and this is what I wish to
do. Let us now draw a veil over the whole affair,
learning one lesson from it,–that when friends
are at variance, it is always better to employ no
mediator, but to communicate directly with each
other.

With this you will receive a dedication from me
[the variations on “Se vuol ballare”]. My sole
wish is that the work were greater and more
worthy of you. I was applied to here to publish
this little work, and I take advantage of the opportunity,
my beloved Eleonore, to give you a proof
of my regard and friendship for yourself, and also
a token of my enduring remembrance of your family.
Pray then accept this trifle, and do not forget
that it is offered by a devoted friend. Oh! if it
only gives you pleasure, my wishes will be fulfilled.
May it in some degree recall the time when I passed
so many happy hours in your house! Perhaps it
may serve to remind you of me till I return, though
this is indeed a distant prospect. Oh! how we
shall then rejoice together, my dear Eleonore!
You will, I trust, find your friend a happier man,
all former forbidding, careworn furrows smoothed
away by time and better fortune.

When you see B. Koch [subsequently Countess
Belderbusch], pray say that it is unkind in her
never once to have written to me. I wrote to her
twice, and three times to Malchus (afterwards
Westphalian Minister of Finance), but no answer.
Tell her that if she does not choose to write herself,
I beg that she will at least urge Malchus to do
so. At the close of my letter I venture to make
one more request–I am anxious to be so fortunate
as again to possess an Angola waistcoat knitted by
your own hand, my dear friend. Forgive my indiscreet
request; it proceeds from my great love for
all that comes from you; and I may privately admit
that a little vanity is connected with it, namely,
that I may say I possess something from the best
and most admired young lady in Bonn. I still
have the one you were so good as to give me in
Bonn; but change of fashion has made it look so
antiquated, that I can only treasure it in my wardrobe
as your gift, and thus still very dear to me.
You would make me very happy by soon writing
me a kind letter. If mine cause you any pleasure,
I promise you to do as you wish, and write as often
as it lies in my power; indeed everything is acceptable
to me that can serve to show you how truly I
am your admiring and sincere friend,

L. V. BEETHOVEN.

P.S. The variations are rather difficult to play,
especially the shake in the Coda; but do not be
alarmed at this, being so contrived that you only
require to play the shake, and leave out the other
notes, which also occur in the violin part. I never
would have written it in this way, had I not occasionally
observed that there was a certain individual
in Vienna who, when I extemporized the previous
evening, not unfrequently wrote down next
day many of the peculiarities of my music, adopting
them as his own [for instance, the Abbé Gelinek].
Concluding, therefore, that some of these
things would soon appear, I resolved to anticipate
this. Another reason also was to puzzle some of
the pianoforte teachers here, many of whom are my
mortal foes; so I wished to revenge myself on them
in this way, knowing that they would occasionally
be asked to play the variations, when these gentlemen
would not appear to much advantage.

BEETHOVEN.

5.
TO ELEONORE VON BREUNING,–BONN.

The beautiful neckcloth, embroidered by your
own hand, was the greatest possible surprise to me;
yet, welcome as the gift was, it awakened within
me feelings of sadness. Its effect was to recall
former days, and to put me to shame by your noble
conduct to me. I, indeed, little thought that you
still considered me worthy of your remembrance.

Oh! if you could have witnessed my emotions
yesterday when this incident occurred, you would
not think that I exaggerate in saying that such a
token of your recollection brought tears to my
eyes, and made me feel very sad. Little as I may
deserve favor in your eyes, believe me, my dear
friend, (let me still call you so,) I have suffered,
and still suffer severely from the privation of your
friendship. Never can I forget you and your dear
mother. You were so kind to me that your loss
neither can nor will be easily replaced. I know
what I have forfeited, and what you were to me,
but in order to fill up this blank I must recur to
scenes equally painful for you to hear and for me to
detail.

As a slight requital of your kind souvenir, I take
the liberty to send you some variations, and a Rondo
with violin accompaniment. I have a great deal
to do, or I would long since have transcribed the
Sonata I promised you. It is as yet a mere sketch
in manuscript, and to copy it would be a difficult
task even for the clever and practised Paraquin
[counter-bass in the Electoral orchestra]. You
can have the Rondo copied, and return the score.
What I now send is the only one of my works at
all suitable for you; besides, as you are going to
Kerpen [where an uncle of the family lived], I
thought these trifles might cause you pleasure.

Farewell, my friend; for it is impossible for me
to give you any other name. However indifferent
I may be to you, believe me, I shall ever continue
to revere you and your mother as I have always
done. If I can in any way contribute to the fulfilment
of a wish of yours, do not fail to let me
know, for I have no other means of testifying my
gratitude for past friendship.

I wish you an agreeable journey, and that your
dear mother may return entirely restored to health!
Think sometimes of your affectionate friend,

BEETHOVEN.

6.
TO HERR SCHENK.

June, 1794.

DEAR SCHENK,^[1]—

I did not know that I was to set off to-day to
Eisenstadt. I should like to have talked to you
again. In the mean time rest assured of my gratitude
for your obliging services. I shall endeavor,
so far as it lies in my power, to requite them. I
hope soon to see you, and once more to enjoy the
pleasure of your society. Farewell, and do not
entirely forget your

BEETHOVEN.

7.
TO DR. WEGELER,–VIENNA.^[1]

… In what an odious light have you exhibited
me to myself! Oh! I acknowledge it, I do not
deserve your friendship. It was no intentional or
deliberate malice that induced me to act towards
you as I did, but inexcusable thoughtlessness
alone.

I say no more. I am coming to throw myself
into your arms, and to entreat you to restore me
my lost friend; and you will give him back to me,
to your penitent, loving, and ever-grateful

BEETHOVEN.

8.
TO DR. WEGELER,–VIENNA.

Vienna, May 1797.

God speed you, my dear friend! I owe you a
letter which you shall shortly have, and my newest
music besides, I am going on well; indeed, I may
say every day better. Greet those to whom it will
give pleasure from me. Farewell, and do not forget
your

BEETHOVEN.

9.
WRITTEN IN THE ALBUM OF LENZ VON BREUNING.

Vienna, Oct. 1, 1797.

Truth for the wise,
Beauty for a feeling heart,
And both for each other.

MY DEAR, GOOD BREUNING,–

Never can I forget the time I passed with you,
not only in Bonn, but here. Continue your friendship
towards me, for you shall always find me the
same true friend,

L. V. BEETHOVEN.

10.
TO BARON ZMESKALL VON DOMANOWECZ.

1800.^[1]

MY CHEAPEST (NOT DEAREST) BARON,–

Desire the guitar-player to come to me to-day.
Amenda (instead of an amende [fine], which he
sometimes deserves for not observing his rests properly)
must persuade this popular guitarist to visit
me, and if possible to come at five o’clock this
evening; if not then, at five or six o’clock to-morrow
morning; but he must not waken me if I chance to
be still asleep. Adieu, mon ami à bon marché.
Perhaps we may meet at the “Swan”?

11.

The musical Count is from this day forth
cashiered with infamy. The first violin [Schuppanzigh]
ruthlessly transported to Siberia. The Baron [see
No. 10] for a whole month strictly interdicted from
asking questions; no longer to be so hasty, and to
devote himself exclusively to his ipse miserum.^[1]

B.

12.
TO PASTOR AMENDA,–COURLAND.

Does Amenda think that I can ever forget him,
because I do not write? in fact, never have written
to him?–as if the memory of our friends could
only thus be preserved! The best man I ever knew
has a thousand times recurred to my thoughts!
Two persons alone once possessed my whole love,
one of whom still lives, and you are now the third.
How can my remembrance of you ever fade? You
will shortly receive a long letter about my present
circumstances and all that can interest you. Farewell,
beloved, good, and noble friend! Ever continue
your love and friendship towards me, just as
I shall ever be your faithful

BEETHOVEN.

13.
TO PASTOR AMENDA.

1800.

MY DEAR, MY GOOD AMENDA, MY WARM-HEARTED FRIEND,–

I received and read your last letter with deep
emotion, and with mingled pain and pleasure. To
what can I compare your fidelity and devotion to
me? Ah! it is indeed delightful that you still continue
to love me so well. I know how to prize you,
and to distinguish you from all others; you are not
like my Vienna friends. No! you are one of those
whom the soil of my fatherland is wont to bring
forth; how often I wish that you were with me,
for your Beethoven is very unhappy. You must
know that one of my most precious faculties, that
of hearing, is become very defective; even while
you were still with me I felt indications of this,
though I said nothing; but it is now much worse.
Whether I shall ever be cured remains yet to be
seen; it is supposed to proceed from the state of
my digestive organs, but I am almost entirely recovered
in that respect. I hope indeed that my
hearing may improve, but I scarcely think so, for
attacks of this kind are the most incurable of all.
How sad my life must now be!–forced to shun
all that is most dear and precious to me, and to live
with such miserable egotists as —-, &c. I can
with truth say that of all my friends Lichnowsky
[Prince Carl] is the most genuine. He last year
settled 600 florins on me, which, together with
the good sale of my works, enables me to live
free from care as to my maintenance. All that I
now write I can dispose of five times over, and be
well paid into the bargain. I have been writing a
good deal latterly, and as I hear that you have ordered
some pianos from —-, I will send you some
of my compositions in the packing-case of one of
these instruments, by which means they will not
cost you so much.

To my great comfort, a person has returned
here with whom I can enjoy the pleasures of society
and disinterested friendship,–one of the friends
of my youth [Stephan von Breuning]. I have
often spoken to him of you, and told him that since
I left my fatherland, you are one of those to whom
my heart specially clings. Z. [Zmeskall?] does
not seem quite to please him; he is, and always
will be, too weak for true friendship, and I look on
him and —- as mere instruments on which I play
as I please, but never can they bear noble testimony
to my inner and outward energies, or feel true
sympathy with me; I value them only in so far as
their services deserve. Oh! how happy should I
now be, had I my full sense of hearing; I would
then hasten to you; whereas, as it is, I must withdraw
from everything. My best years will thus
pass away, without effecting what my talents and
powers might have enabled me to perform. How
melancholy is the resignation in which I must take
refuge! I had determined to rise superior to all
this, but how is it possible? If in the course of
six months my malady be pronounced incurable
then, Amenda! I shall appeal to you to leave all
else and come to me, when I intend to travel (my
affliction is less distressing when playing and composing,
and most so in intercourse with others),
and you must be my companion. I have a conviction
that good fortune will not forsake me, for to
what may I not at present aspire? Since you were
here I have written everything except operas and
church music. You will not, I know, refuse my
petition; you will help your friend to bear his burden
and his calamity. I have also very much perfected
my pianoforte playing, and I hope that a
journey of this kind may possibly contribute to your
own success in life, and you would thenceforth always
remain with me. I duly received all your
letters, and though I did not reply to them, you
were constantly present with me, and my heart
beats as tenderly as ever for you. I beg you will
keep the fact of my deafness a profound secret, and
not confide it to any human being. Write to me
frequently; your letters, however short, console and
cheer me; so I shall soon hope to hear from you.

Do not give your quartet to any one [in F, Op.
18, No. 1], as I have altered it very much, having
only now succeeded in writing quartets properly;
this you will at once perceive when you receive it.
Now, farewell, my dear kind friend! If by any
chance I can serve you here, I need not say that
you have only to command me.

Your faithful and truly attached
L. V. BEETHOVEN.

14.
TO WEGELER.

Vienna, June 29, 1800.

MY DEAR AND VALUED WEGELER,–

How much I thank you for your remembrance of
me, little as I deserve it, or have sought to deserve
it; and yet you are so kind that you allow nothing,
not even my unpardonable neglect, to discourage
you, always remaining the same true, good, and faithful
friend. That I can ever forget you or yours,
once so dear and precious to me, do not for a moment
believe. There are times when I find myself
longing to see you again, and wishing that I could
go to stay with you. My father-land, that lovely
region where I first saw the light, is still as distinct
and beauteous in my eyes as when I quitted you;
in short, I shall esteem the time when I once more
see you, and again greet Father Rhine, as one of
the happiest periods of my life. When this may be
I cannot yet tell; but at all events I may say that
you shall not see me again till I have become eminent,
not only as an artist, but better and more
perfect as a man; and if the condition of our father-land
be then more prosperous, my art shall be
entirely devoted to the benefit of the poor. Oh,
blissful moment!–how happy do I esteem myself
that I can expedite it and bring it to pass!

You desire to know something of my position;
well! it is by no means bad. However incredible
it may appear, I must tell you that Lichnowsky has
been, and still is, my warmest friend (slight dissensions
occurred occasionally between us, and yet they
only served to strengthen our friendship). He
settled on me last year the sum of 600 florins, for
which I am to draw on him till I can procure some
suitable situation. My compositions are very profitable,
and I may really say that I have almost more
commissions than it is possible for me to execute.
I can have six or seven publishers or more for every
piece, if I choose; they no longer bargain with me–I
demand, and they pay–so you see this is a
very good thing. For instance, I have a friend in
distress, and my purse does not admit of my assisting
him at once; but I have only to sit down and
write, and in a short time he is relieved. I am also
become more economical than formerly. If I finally
settle here, I don’t doubt I shall be able to secure a
particular day every year for a concert, of which I
have already given several. That malicious demon,
however, bad health, has been a stumbling-block in
my path; my hearing during the last three years has
become gradually worse. The chief cause of this
infirmity proceeds from the state of my digestive
organs, which, as you know, were formerly bad
enough, but have latterly become much worse, and
being constantly afflicted with diarrhoea, has brought
on extreme weakness. Frank [Director of the
General Hospital] strove to restore the tone of my
digestion by tonics, and my hearing by oil of almonds;
but alas! these did me no good whatever;
my hearing became worse, and my digestion continued
in its former plight. This went on till the
autumn of last year, when I was often reduced to
utter despair. Then some medical asinus recommended
me cold baths, but a more judicious doctor
the tepid ones of the Danube, which did wonders
for me; my digestion improved, but my hearing
remained the same, or in fact rather got worse. I
did indeed pass a miserable winter; I suffered from
most dreadful spasms, and sank back into my former
condition. Thus it went on till about a month
ago, when I consulted Vering [an army surgeon],
under the belief that my maladies required surgical
advice; besides, I had every confidence in him.
He succeeded in almost entirely checking the violent
diarrhoea, and ordered me the tepid baths of
the Danube, into which I pour some strengthening
mixture. He gave me no medicine, except some
digestive pills four days ago, and a lotion for my
ears. I certainly do feel better and stronger, but
my ears are buzzing and ringing perpetually, day
and night. I can with truth say that my life is very
wretched; for nearly two years past I have avoided
all society, because I find it impossible to say to people,
I am deaf! In any other profession this might
be more tolerable, but in mine such a condition is
truly frightful. Besides, what would my enemies
say to this?–and they are not few in number.

To give you some idea of my extraordinary deafness,
I must tell you that in the theatre I am
obliged to lean close up against the orchestra in order
to understand the actors, and when a little way
off I hear none of the high notes of instruments or
singers. It is most astonishing that in conversation
some people never seem to observe this; being subject
to fits of absence, they attribute it to that
cause. I often can scarcely hear a person if
speaking low; I can distinguish the tones, but not
the words, and yet I feel it intolerable if any one
shouts to me. Heaven alone knows how it is to
end! Vering declares that I shall certainly improve,
even if I be not entirely restored. How
often have I cursed my existence! Plutarch led
me to resignation. I shall strive if possible to set
Fate at defiance, although there must be moments
in my life when I cannot fail to be the most unhappy
of God’s creatures. I entreat you to say
nothing of my affliction to any one, not even to
Lorchen [see Nos. 4 and 5]. I confide the secret
to you alone, and entreat you some day to correspond
with Vering on the subject. If I continue
in the same state, I shall come to you in the ensuing
spring, when you must engage a house for me
somewhere in the country, amid beautiful scenery,
and I shall then become a rustic for a year, which
may perhaps effect a change. Resignation!–what
a miserable refuge! and yet it is my sole remaining
one. You will forgive my thus appealing
to your kindly sympathies at a time when your own
position is sad enough. Stephan Breuning is here,
and we are together almost every day; it does me
so much good to revive old feelings! He has
really become a capital good fellow, not devoid of
talent, and his heart, like that of us all, pretty
much in the right place. [See No. 13.]

I have very charming rooms at present, adjoining
the Bastei [the ramparts], and peculiarly valuable
to me on account of my health [at Baron Pasqualati’s].
I do really think I shall be able to arrange
that Breuning shall come to me. You shall have
your Antiochus [a picture], and plenty of my
music besides–if, indeed, it will not cost you too
much. Your love of art does honestly rejoice me.
Only say how it is to be done, and I will send you
all my works, which now amount to a considerable
number, and are daily increasing. I beg you will
let me have my grandfather’s portrait as soon as
possible by the post, in return for which I send you
that of his grandson, your loving and attached
Beethoven. It has been brought out here by
Artaria, who, as well as many other publishers, has
often urged this on me. I intend soon to write to
Stoffeln [Christoph von Breuning], and plainly admonish
him about his surly humor. I mean to
sound in his ears our old friendship, and to insist on
his promising me not to annoy you further in your
sad circumstances. I will also write to the amiable
Lorchen. Never have I forgotten one of you, my
kind friends, though you did not hear from me;
but you know well that writing never was my forte,
even my best friends having received no letters
from me for years. I live wholly in my music, and
scarcely is one work finished when another is begun;
indeed, I am now often at work on three or four
things at the same time. Do write to me frequently,
and I will strive to find time to write to
you also. Give my remembrances to all, especially
to the kind Frau Hofräthin [von Breuning], and
say to her that I am still subject to an occasional
raptus. As for K—-, I am not at all surprised
at the change in her: Fortune rolls like a ball, and
does not always stop before the best and noblest.
As to Ries [Court musician in Bonn], to whom
pray cordially remember me, I must say one word.
I will write to you more particularly about his son
[Ferdinand], although I believe that he would be
more likely to succeed in Paris than in Vienna,
which is already overstocked, and where even those
of the highest merit find it a hard matter to maintain
themselves. By next autumn or winter, I
shall be able to see what can be done for him,
because then all the world returns to town. Farewell,
my kind, faithful Wegeler! Rest assured of
the love and friendship of your

BEETHOVEN.

15.
TO COUNTESS GIULIETTA GUICCIARDI.^[1]

Morning, July 6, 1800.

MY ANGEL! MY ALL! MY SECOND SELF!

Only a few words to-day, written with a pencil
(your own). My residence cannot be settled till
to-morrow. What a tiresome loss of time! Why
this deep grief when necessity compels?–can our
love exist without sacrifices, and by refraining from
desiring all things? Can you alter the fact that
you are not wholly mine, nor I wholly yours? Ah!
contemplate the beauties of Nature, and reconcile
your spirit to the inevitable. Love demands all,
and has a right to do so, and thus it is I feel towards
you and you towards me; but you do not sufficiently
remember that I must live both for you and for myself.
Were we wholly united, you would feel this
sorrow as little as I should. My journey was terrible.
I did not arrive here till four o’clock yesterday
morning, as no horses were to be had. The
drivers chose another route; but what a dreadful
one it was! At the last stage I was warned not to
travel through the night, and to beware of a certain
wood, but this only incited me to go forward, and I
was wrong. The carriage broke down, owing to
the execrable roads, mere deep rough country lanes,
and had it not been for the postilions I must have
been left by the wayside. Esterhazy, travelling
the usual road, had the same fate with eight horses,
whereas I had only four. Still I felt a certain
degree of pleasure, which I invariably do when I
have happily surmounted any difficulty. But I
must now pass from the outer to the inner man.
We shall, I trust, soon meet again; to-day I cannot
impart to you all the reflections I have made,
during the last few days, on my life; were our
hearts closely united forever, none of these would
occur to me. My heart is overflowing with all I
have to say to you. Ah! there are moments when
I find that speech is actually nothing. Take courage!
Continue to be ever my true and only love,
my all! as I am yours. The gods must ordain
what is further to be and shall be!

Your faithful
LUDWIG.

Monday Evening, July 6.

You grieve! dearest of all beings! I have just
heard that the letters must be sent off very early.
Mondays and Thursdays are the only days when the
post goes to K. from here. You grieve! Ah!
where I am, there you are ever with me; how
earnestly shall I strive to pass my life with you,
and what a life will it be!!! Whereas now!!
without you!! and persecuted by the kindness of
others, which I neither deserve nor try to deserve!
The servility of man towards his fellow-man pains
me, and when I regard myself as a component part
of the universe, what am I, what is he who is
called the greatest?–and yet herein are displayed
the godlike feelings of humanity!–I weep in
thinking that you will receive no intelligence from
me till probably Saturday. However dearly you
may love me, I love you more fondly still. Never
conceal your feelings from me. Good-night! As
a patient at these baths, I must now go to rest [a
few words are here effaced by Beethoven himself].
Oh, heavens! so near, and yet so far! Is not our
love a truly celestial mansion, but firm as the vault
of heaven itself?

July 7.

GOOD-MORNING!

Even before I rise, my thoughts throng to you,
my immortal beloved!–sometimes full of joy, and
yet again sad, waiting to see whether Fate will hear
us. I must live either wholly with you, or not
at all. Indeed I have resolved to wander far from
you [see No. 13] till the moment arrives when I
can fly into your arms, and feel that they are my
home, and send forth my soul in unison with yours
into the realm of spirits. Alas! it must be so!
You will take courage, for you know my fidelity.
Never can another possess my heart–never,
never! Oh, heavens! Why must I fly from her
I so fondly love? and yet my existence in W. was
as miserable as here. Your love made me the most
happy and yet the most unhappy of men. At my
age, life requires a uniform equality; can this be
found in our mutual relations? My angel! I have
this moment heard that the post goes every day, so
I must conclude, that you may get this letter the
sooner. Be calm! for we can only attain our object
of living together by the calm contemplation
of our existence. Continue to love me. Yesterday,
to-day, what longings for you, what tears for
you! for you! for you! my life! my all! Farewell!
Oh! love me forever, and never doubt the faithful
heart of your lover, L.

Ever thine.
Ever mine.
Ever each other’s.

16.
TO MATTHISSON.

Vienna, August 4, 1800.

MOST ESTEEMED FRIEND,–

You will receive with this one of my compositions
published some years since, and yet, to my
shame, you probably have never heard of it. I
cannot attempt to excuse myself, or to explain why
I dedicated a work to you which came direct from
my heart, but never acquainted you with its existence,
unless indeed in this way, that at first I did
not know where you lived, and partly also from
diffidence, which led me to think I might have
been premature in dedicating a work to you before
ascertaining that you approved of it. Indeed, even
now I send you “Adelaide” with a feeling of timidity.
You know yourself what changes the lapse
of some years brings forth in an artist who continues
to make progress; the greater the advances
we make in art, the less are we satisfied with our
works of an earlier date. My most ardent wish
will be fulfilled if you are not dissatisfied with the
manner in which I have set your heavenly “Adelaide”
to music, and are incited by it soon to compose
a similar poem; and if you do not consider
my request too indiscreet, I would ask you to send
it to me forthwith, that I may exert all my energies
to approach your lovely poetry in merit. Pray
regard the dedication as a token of the pleasure
which your “Adelaide” conferred on me, as well as
of the appreciation and intense delight your poetry
always has inspired, and always will inspire in me.

When playing “Adelaide,” sometimes recall

Your sincere admirer,
BEETHOVEN.

17.
TO FRAU FRANK,–VIENNA

October, 1800.

DEAR LADY,–

At the second announcement of our concert,
you must remind your husband that the public
should be made acquainted with the names of those
whose talents are to contribute to this concert.
Such is the custom here; and indeed, were it not
so, what is there to attract a larger audience? which
is after all our chief object. Punto [the celebrated
horn-player, for whom Beethoven wrote Sonata
17] is not a little indignant about the omission,
and I must say he has reason to be so; but even
before seeing him it was my intention to have reminded
you of this, for I can only explain the mistake
by great haste or great forgetfulness. Be so
good, then, dear lady, as to attend to my hint
otherwise you will certainly expose yourself to
many annoyances. Being at last convinced in my
own mind, and by others, that I shall not be quite
superfluous in this concert, I know that not only
I, but also Punto, Simoni [a tenorist], and Galvani
will demand that the public should be apprised of
our zeal for this charitable object; otherwise we
must all conclude that we are not wanted.

Yours,
BEETHOVEN.

18.
TO HERR VON WEGELER.

Vienna, Nov. 16, 1800.

MY DEAR WEGELER,–

I thank you for this fresh proof of your interest in
me, especially as I so little deserve it. You wish
to know how I am, and what remedies I use. Unwilling
as I always feel to discuss this subject, still
I feel less reluctant to do so with you than with any
other person. For some months past Vering has
ordered me to apply blisters on both arms, of a particular
kind of bark, with which you are probably
acquainted,–a disagreeable remedy, independent
of the pain, as it deprives me of the free use of my
arms for a couple of days at a time, till the blisters
have drawn sufficiently. The ringing and buzzing
in my ears have certainly rather decreased, particularly
in the left ear, in which the malady first commenced,
but my hearing is not at all improved; in
fact I fear that it is become rather worse. My
health is better, and after using the tepid baths for
a time, I feel pretty well for eight or ten days. I
seldom take tonics, but I have begun applications of
herbs, according to your advice. Vering will not
hear of plunge baths, but I am much dissatisfied with
him; he is neither so attentive nor so indulgent
as he ought to be to such a malady; if I did not
go to him, which is no easy matter, I should never
see him at all. What is your opinion of Schmidt
[an army surgeon]? I am unwilling to make any
change, but it seems to me that Vering is too much
of a practitioner to acquire new ideas by reading.
On this point Schmidt appears to be a very different
man, and would probably be less negligent with
regard to my case. I hear wonders of galvanism;
what do you say to it? A physician told me that
he knew a deaf and dumb child whose hearing was
restored by it (in Berlin), and likewise a man who
had been deaf for seven years, and recovered his
hearing. I am told that your friend Schmidt is at
this moment making experiments on the subject.

I am now leading a somewhat more agreeable
life, as of late I have been associating more with
other people. You could scarcely believe what a
sad and dreary life mine has been for the last two
years; my defective hearing everywhere pursuing
me like a spectre, making me fly from every one,
and appear a misanthrope; and yet no one is in
reality less so! This change has been wrought by
a lovely fascinating girl [undoubtedly Giulietta],
who loves me and whom I love. I have once more
had some blissful moments during the last two
years, and it is the first time I ever felt that marriage
could make me happy. Unluckily, she is not
in my rank of life, and indeed at this moment I
can marry no one; I must first bestir myself actively
in the world. Had it not been for my deafness,
I would have travelled half round the globe
ere now, and this I must still do. For me there is
no pleasure so great as to promote and to pursue
my art.

Do not suppose that I could be happy with you.
What indeed could make me happier? Your very
solicitude would distress me; I should read your
compassion every moment in your countenance,
which would make me only still more unhappy.
What were my thoughts amid the glorious scenery
of my father-land? The hope alone of a happier
future, which would have been mine but for this
affliction! Oh! I could span the world were I only
free from this! I feel that my youth is only now
commencing. Have I not always been an infirm
creature? For some time past my bodily strength
has been increasing, and it is the same with my
mental powers. I feel, though I cannot describe
it, that I daily approach the object I have in view,
in which alone can your Beethoven live. No rest
for him!–I know of none but in sleep, and I do
grudge being obliged to sacrifice more time to it
than formerly.^[1] Were I only half cured of my
malady, then I would come to you, and, as a more
perfect and mature man, renew our old friendship.

You should then see me as happy as I am ever
destined to be here below–not unhappy. No!
that I could not endure; I will boldly meet my
fate, never shall it succeed in crushing me. Oh!
it is so glorious to live one’s life a thousand times
over! I feel that I am no longer made for a quiet
existence. You will write to me as soon as possible?
Pray try to prevail on Steffen [von Breuning]
to seek an appointment from the Teutonic
Order somewhere. Life here is too harassing for
his health; besides, he is so isolated that I do not
see how he is ever to get on. You know the kind
of existence here. I do not take it upon myself to
say that society would dispel his lassitude, but he
cannot be persuaded to go anywhere. A short
time since, I had some music in my house, but our
friend Steffen stayed away. Do recommend him
to be more calm and self-possessed, which I have in
vain tried to effect; otherwise he can neither enjoy
health nor happiness. Tell me in your next
letter whether you care about my sending you a
large selection of music; you can indeed dispose
of what you do not want, and thus repay the expense
of the carriage, and have my portrait into the
bargain. Say all that is kind and amiable from
me to Lorchen, and also to mamma and Christoph.
You still have some regard for me? Always rely
on the love as well as the friendship of your

BEETHOVEN.

19.
TO KAPELLMEISTER HOFMEISTER,–LEIPZIG.^[1]

Vienna, Dec. 15, 1800.

MY DEAR BROTHER IN ART,–

I have often intended to answer your proposals,
but am frightfully lazy about all correspondence; so
it is usually a good while before I can make up my
mind to write dry letters instead of music. I have,
however, at last forced myself to answer your application.
Pro primo, I must tell you how much I
regret that you, my much-loved brother in the science
of music, did not give me some hint, so that I
might have offered you my quartets, as well as
many other things that I have now disposed of.
But if you are as conscientious, my dear brother, as
many other publishers, who grind to death us poor
composers, you will know pretty well how to derive
ample profit when the works appear. I now
briefly state what you can have from me. 1st. A
Septet, per il violino, viola, violoncello, contra-basso,
clarinetto, corno, fagotto;–tutti obbligati (I can
write nothing that is not obbligato, having come
into the world with an obbligato accompaniment!)
This Septet pleases very much. For more general
use it might be arranged for one more violino,
viola, and violoncello, instead of the three wind-instruments,
fagotto, clarinetto, and corno.^[2] 2d. A
Grand Symphony with full orchestra [the 1st].
3rd. A pianoforte Concerto [Op. 19], which I by
no means assert to be one of my best, any more
than the one Mollo is to publish here [Op. 15],
(this is for the benefit of the Leipzig critics!) because
I reserve the best for myself till I set off on
my travels; still the work will not disgrace you to
publish. 4th. A Grand Solo Sonata [Op. 22].
These are all I can part with at this moment; a
little later you can have a quintet for stringed instruments,
and probably some quartets also, and
other pieces that I have not at present beside me.
In your answer you can yourself fix the prices; and
as you are neither an Italian nor a Jew, nor am I
either, we shall no doubt quickly agree. Farewell,
and rest assured,

My dear brother in art, of the esteem of your

BEETHOVEN.

20.
TO KAPELLMEISTER HOFMEISTER.

Vienna, Jan. 15 (or thereabouts), 1801.

I read your letter, dear brother and friend, with
much pleasure, and I thank you for your good opinion
of me and of my works, and hope I may continue
to deserve it. I also beg you to present all
due thanks to Herr K. [Kühnel] for his politeness
and friendship towards me. I, on my part, rejoice
in your undertakings, and am glad that when works
of art do turn out profitable, they fall to the share
of true artists, rather than to that of mere tradesmen.

Your intention to publish Sebastian Bach’s works
really gladdens my heart, which beats with devotion
for the lofty and grand productions of this our
father of the science of harmony, and I trust I shall
soon see them appear. I hope when golden peace
is proclaimed, and your subscription list opened, to
procure you many subscribers here.^[1]

With regard to our own transactions, as you wish
to know my proposals, they are as follows. I offer
you at present the following works:–The Septet
(which I already wrote to you about), 20 ducats;
Symphony, 20 ducats; Concerto, 10 ducats; Grand
Solo Sonata, allegro, adagio, minuetto, rondo, 20
ducats. This Sonata [Op. 22] is well up to the
mark, my dear brother!

Now for explanations. You may perhaps be surprised
that I make no difference of price between the
sonata, septet, and symphony. I do so because
I find that a septet or a symphony has not so great
a sale as a sonata, though a symphony ought
unquestionably to be of the most value. (N.B.
The septet consists of a short introductory adagio,
an allegro, adagio, minuetto, andante, with variations,
minuetto, and another short adagio preceding a
presto.) I only ask ten ducats for the concerto,
for, as I already wrote to you, I do not consider it
one of my best. I cannot think that, taken as a
whole, you will consider these prices exorbitant; at
least, I have endeavored to make them as moderate
as possible for you.

With regard to the banker’s draft, as you give
me my choice, I beg you will make it payable by
Germüller or Schüller. The entire sum for the
four works will amount to 70 ducats; I understand
no currency but Vienna ducats, so how many dollars
in gold they make in your money is no affair
of mine, for really I am a very bad man of business
and accountant. Now this troublesome business is
concluded;–I call it so, heartily wishing that it
could be otherwise here below! There ought to
be only one grand dépôt of art in the world, to
which the artist might repair with his works, and
on presenting them receive what he required; but
as it now is, one must be half a tradesman besides–and
how is this to be endured? Good heavens!
I may well call it troublesome!

As for the Leipzig oxen,^[2] let them talk!–they
certainly will make no man immortal by their prating,
and as little can they deprive of immortality
those whom Apollo destines to attain it.

Now may Heaven preserve you and your colleagues!
I have been unwell for some time; so it
is rather difficult for me at present to write even
music, much more letters. I trust we shall have
frequent opportunities to assure each other how
truly you are my friend, and I yours.

I hope for a speedy answer. Adieu!

L. V. BEETHOVEN.

21.
TO HERR HOFMEISTER.

Vienna, April 22, 1801.

You have indeed too good cause to complain not
a little of me. My excuse is that I have been ill,
and in addition had so much to do, that I could
scarcely even think of what I was to send you.
Moreover, the only thing in me that resembles a
genius is, that my papers are never in very good
order, and yet no one but myself can succeed in arranging
them. For instance, in the score of the
concerto, the piano part, according to my usual
custom, was not yet written down; so, owing to my
hurry, you will receive it in my own very illegible
writing. In order that the works may follow as
nearly as possible in their proper order, I have
marked the numbers to be placed on each, as follows:–

I will send you their various titles shortly.

Put me down as a subscriber to Sebastian Bach’s
works [see Letter 20], and also Prince Lichnowsky.
The arrangement of Mozart’s Sonatas as
quartets will do you much credit, and no doubt
be profitable also. I wish I could contribute more
to the promotion of such an undertaking, but I am
an irregular man, and too apt, even with the best
intentions, to forget everything; I have, however,
mentioned the matter to various people, and I
everywhere find them well disposed towards it. It
would be a good thing if you would arrange the
septet you are about to publish as a quintet,
with a flute part, for instance; this would be an
advantage to amateurs of the flute, who have already
importuned me on the subject, and who would
swarm round it like insects and banquet on it.

Now to tell you something of myself. I have
written a ballet [“Prometheus”], in which the
ballet-master has not done his part so well as might
be. The F—- von L—- has also bestowed on
us a production which by no means corresponds
with the ideas of his genius conveyed by the newspaper
reports. F—- seems to have taken Herr
M—- (Wenzel Müller?) as his ideal at the Kusperle,
yet without even rising to his level. Such
are the fine prospects before us poor people who
strive to struggle upwards! My dear friend, pray
lose no time in bringing the work before the notice
of the public, and write to me soon, that I may
know whether by my delay I have entirely forfeited
your confidence for the future. Say all that
is civil and kind to your partner, Kühnel. Everything
shall henceforth be sent finished, and in quick
succession. So now farewell, and continue your
regards for

Your friend and brother,
BEETHOVEN.

22.
TO HERR HOFMEISTER.

Vienna, June, 1801.

I am rather surprised at the communication you
have desired your business agent here to make to
me; I may well feel offended at your believing me
capable of so mean a trick. It would have been a
very different thing had I sold my works to rapacious
shopkeepers, and then secretly made another
good speculation; but, from one artist to another,
it is rather a strong measure to suspect me of such
a proceeding! The whole thing seems to be either
a device to put me to the test, or a mere suspicion.
In any event I may tell you that before you received
the septet from me I had sent it to Mr.
Salomon in London (to be played at his own concert,
which I did solely from friendship), with the
express injunction to beware of its getting into
other hands, as it was my intention to have it engraved
in Germany, and, if you choose, you can
apply to him for the confirmation of this. But to
give you a further proof of my integrity, “I herewith
give you the faithful assurance that I have
neither sold the septet, the symphony, the concerto,
nor the sonata to any one but to Messrs.
Hofmeister and Kühnel, and that they may consider
them to be their own exclusive property.
And to this I pledge my honor.” You may make
what use you please of this guarantee.

Moreover, I believe Salomon to be as incapable
of the baseness of engraving the septet as I am
of selling it to him. I was so scrupulous in the
matter, that when applied to by various publishers
to sanction a pianoforte arrangement of the septet,
I at once declined, though I do not even know
whether you proposed making use of it in this way.
Here follow the long-promised titles of the works.
There will no doubt be a good deal to alter and to
amend in them; but this I leave to you. I shall
soon expect a letter from you, and, I hope, the works
likewise, which I wish to see engraved, as others
have appeared, and are about to appear, in connection
with these numbers. I look on your statement
as founded on mere rumors, which you have believed
with too much facility, or based entirely on
supposition, induced by having perchance heard
that I had sent the work to Salomon; I cannot,
therefore, but feel some coolness towards such a
credulous friend, though I still subscribe myself

Your friend,
BEETHOVEN.

23.
DEDICATION TO DR. SCHMIDT.^[1]

1801.

MONSIEUR,–

Je sens parfaitement bien, que la Celebrité de
Votre nom ainsi que l’amitié dont Vous m’honorez,
exigeroient de moi la dédicace d’un bien plus important
ouvrage. La seule chose qui a pu me
déterminer à Vous offrir celui-ci de préférence,
c’est qu’il me paroît d’une exécution plus facile et
par la même plus propre à contribuer à la Satisfaction
dont Vous jouissez dans l’aimable Cercle de
Votre Famille.–C’est surtout, lorsque les heureux
talents d’une fille chérie se seront developpés davantage,
que je me flatte de voir ce but atteint.
Heureux si j’y ai réussi et si dans cette faible
marque de ma haute estime et de ma gratitude
Vous reconnoissez toute la vivacité et la cordialité
de mes sentiments.

LOUIS VAN BEETHOVEN.

24.
TO HIS SCHOLAR, FERDINAND RIES.^[1]

1801.

DEAR RIES,–

I send you herewith the four parts corrected by
me; please compare the others already written out
with these. I also enclose a letter to Count
Browne. I have told him that he must make an
advance to you of fifty ducats, to enable you to
get your outfit. This is absolutely necessary, so it
cannot offend him; for after being equipped, you
are to go with him to Baden on the Monday of the
ensuing week. I must, however, reproach you for
not having had recourse to me long ago. Am I
not your true friend? Why did you conceal your
necessities from me? No friend of mine shall ever
be in need, so long as I have anything myself. I
would already have sent you a small sum, did I not
rely on Browne; if he fails us, then apply at once
to your

BEETHOVEN.

25.
TO HERR HOFMEISTER,–LEIPZIG.

Vienna, April 8, 1802.

Do you mean to go post-haste to the devil, gentlemen,
by proposing that I should write such a
sonata? During the revolutionary fever, a thing
of the kind might have been appropriate, but now,
when everything is falling again into the beaten
track, and Bonaparte has concluded a Concordat
with the Pope–such a sonata as this? If it were
a missa pro Sancta Maria à tre voci, or a vesper,
&c., then I would at once take up my pen and
write a Credo in unum, in gigantic semibreves. But,
good heavens! such a sonata, in this fresh dawning
Christian epoch. No, no!–it won’t do, and I
will have none of it.

Now for my answer in quickest tempo. The
lady can have a sonata from me, and I am willing to
adopt the general outlines of her plan in an aesthetical
point of view, without adhering to the keys
named. The price to be five ducats; for this sum
she can keep the work a year for her own amusement,
without either of us being entitled to publish
it. After the lapse of a year, the sonata to revert
to me–that is, I can and will then publish it,
when, if she considers it any distinction, she may
request me to dedicate it to her.

I now, gentlemen, commend you to the grace of
God. My Sonata [Op. 22] is well engraved, but
you have been a fine time about it! I hope you
will usher my Septet into the world a little quicker,
as the P—- is waiting for it, and you know the
Empress has it; and when there are in this imperial
city people like —-, I cannot be answerable
for the result; so lose no time!

Herr —- [Mollo?] has lately published my
Quartets [Op. 18] full of faults and errata, both
large and small, which swarm in them like fish in
the sea; that is, they are innumerable. Questo è un
piacere per un autore–this is what I call engraving
[stechen, stinging] with a vengeance.^[1] In
truth, my skin is a mass of punctures and scratches
from this fine edition of my Quartets! Now farewell,
and think of me as I do of you. Till death,
your faithful

L. V. BEETHOVEN.

26.^[1]
TO MY BROTHERS CARL AND JOHANN BEETHOVEN.

Heiligenstadt, Oct. 6, 1802.

Oh! ye who think or declare me to be hostile,
morose, and misanthropical, how unjust you are,
and how little you know the secret cause of what
appears thus to you! My heart and mind were
ever from childhood prone to the most tender feelings
of affection, and I was always disposed to accomplish
something great. But you must remember
that six years ago I was attacked by an incurable
malady, aggravated by unskilful physicians,
deluded from year to year, too, by the hope of relief,
and at length forced to the conviction of a lasting
affliction (the cure of which may go on for
years, and perhaps after all prove impracticable).

Born with a passionate and excitable temperament,
keenly susceptible to the pleasures of society,
I was yet obliged early in life to isolate myself, and
to pass my existence in solitude. If I at any time
resolved to surmount all this, oh! how cruelly was
I again repelled by the experience, sadder than
ever, of my defective hearing!–and yet I found
it impossible to say to others: Speak louder; shout!
for I am deaf! Alas! how could I proclaim the
deficiency of a sense which ought to have been
more perfect with me than with other men,–a
sense which I once possessed in the highest perfection,
to an extent, indeed, that few of my profession
ever enjoyed! Alas, I cannot do this! Forgive me
therefore when you see me withdraw from you with
whom I would so gladly mingle. My misfortune is
doubly severe from causing me to be misunderstood.
No longer can I enjoy recreation in social intercourse,
refined conversation, or mutual outpourings
of thought. Completely isolated, I only enter society
when compelled to do so. I must live like an exile.
In company I am assailed by the most painful apprehensions,
from the dread of being exposed to
the risk of my condition being observed. It was
the same during the last six months I spent in the
country. My intelligent physician recommended
me to spare my hearing as much as possible, which
was quite in accordance with my present disposition,
though sometimes, tempted by my natural inclination
for society, I allowed myself to be beguiled into
it. But what humiliation when any one beside me
heard a flute in the far distance, while I heard
nothing, or when others heard a shepherd singing,
and I still heard nothing! Such things brought me
to the verge of desperation, and wellnigh caused
me to put an end to my life. Art! art alone,
deterred me. Ah! how could I possibly quit the
world before bringing forth all that I felt it was
my vocation to produce?^[2] And thus I spared this
miserable life–so utterly miserable that any sudden
change may reduce me at any moment from
my best condition into the worst. It is decreed
that I must now choose Patience for my guide!
This I have done. I hope the resolve will not fail
me, steadfastly to persevere till it may please the
inexorable Fates to cut the thread of my life. Perhaps
I may get better, perhaps not. I am prepared
for either. Constrained to become a philosopher in
my twenty-eighth year!^[3] This is no slight trial,
and more severe on an artist than on any one else.
God looks into my heart, He searches it, and knows
that love for man and feelings of benevolence have
their abode there! Oh! ye who may one day read
this, think that you have done me injustice, and let
any one similarly afflicted be consoled, by finding
one like himself, who, in defiance of all the obstacles
of Nature, has done all in his power to be included
in the ranks of estimable artists and men. My
brothers Carl and Johann, as soon as I am no more,
if Professor Schmidt [see Nos. 18 and 23] be still
alive, beg him in my name to describe my malady,
and to add these pages to the analysis of my disease,
that at least, so far as possible, the world may be
reconciled to me after my death. I also hereby
declare you both heirs of my small fortune (if so
it may be called). Share it fairly, agree together
and assist each other. You know that anything
you did to give me pain has been long forgiven. I
thank you, my brother Carl in particular, for the
attachment you have shown me of late. My wish
is that you may enjoy a happier life, and one more
free from care, than mine has been. Recommend
Virtue to your children; that alone, and not wealth,
can ensure happiness. I speak from experience.
It was Virtue alone which sustained me in my misery;
I have to thank her and Art for not having
ended my life by suicide. Farewell! Love each
other. I gratefully thank all my friends, especially
Prince Lichnowsky and Professor Schmidt. I wish
one of you to keep Prince L—-‘s instruments;
but I trust this will give rise to no dissension between
you. If you think it more beneficial, however,
you have only to dispose of them. How
much I shall rejoice if I can serve you even in the
grave! So be it then! I joyfully hasten to meet
Death. If he comes before I have had the opportunity
of developing all my artistic powers, then,
notwithstanding my cruel fate, he will come too
early for me, and I should wish for him at a more
distant period; but even then I shall be content,
for his advent will release me from a state of endless
suffering. Come when he may, I shall meet
him with courage. Farewell! Do not quite forget
me, even in death; I deserve this from you,
because during my life I so often thought of you,
and wished to make you happy. Amen!

LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN.

(Written on the Outside.)

Thus, then, I take leave of you, and with sadness
too. The fond hope I brought with me here, of
being to a certain degree cured, now utterly forsakes
me. As autumn leaves fall and wither, so
are my hopes blighted. Almost as I came, I depart.
Even the lofty courage that so often animated
me in the lovely days of summer is gone forever.
O Providence! vouchsafe me one day of
pure felicity! How long have I been estranged
from the glad echo of true joy! When! O my
God! when shall I again feel it in the temple of
Nature and of man?–never? Ah! that would be
too hard!

(Outside.)

To be read and fulfilled after my death by my
brothers Carl and Johann.

27.
NOTICE.

November, 1802.

I owe it to the public and to myself to state that
the two quintets in C and E flat major–one of
these (arranged from a symphony of mine) published
by Herr Mollo in Vienna, and the other
(taken from my Septet, Op. 20) by Herr Hofmeister
in Leipzig–are not original quintets, but only
versions of the aforesaid works given by the publishers.
Arrangements in these days (so fruitful in–arrangements)
an author will find it vain to contend
against; but we may at least justly demand
that the fact should be mentioned in the title-page,
neither to injure the reputation of the author nor to
deceive the public. This notice is given to prevent
anything of the kind in future. I also beg
to announce that shortly a new original quintet of
my composition, in C major, Op. 29, will appear at
Breitkopf & Härtel’s in Leipzig.

LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN.

28.
TO FERDINAND RIES.

Summer of 1803.

You no doubt are aware that I am here. Go to
Stein, and ask if he can send me an instrument, on
hire. I am afraid of bringing mine here. Come
to me this evening about seven o’clock. I lodge in
Oberdöbling, on the left side of the street, No. 4,
going down the hill towards Heiligenstadt.

29.
TO HERR HOFMEISTER,–LEIPZIG.

Vienna, Sept. 22, 1803.

I hereby declare all the works you have ordered
to be your property. The list of these shall be made
out and sent to you with my signature, as the
proof of their being your own. I also agree to accept
the sum of fifty ducats for them. Are you
satisfied?

Perhaps, instead of the variations with violoncello
and violin,^[1] I may send you variations for the piano,
arranged as a duet on a song of mine; but Goethe’s
poetry must also be engraved, as I wrote these variations
in an album, and consider them better than
the others. Are you satisfied?

The arrangements are not by me, though I have
revised and much improved various passages; but
I do not wish you to say that I have arranged them,
for it would be false, and I have neither time nor
patience to do so. Are you satisfied?

Now farewell! I sincerely wish that all may go
well with you. I would gladly make you a present
of all my works, if I could do so and still get on in
the world; but–remember most people are provided
for, and know what they have to live on,
while, good heavens! where can an appointment
be found at the Imperial Court for such a parvum
talentum com ego?

Your friend,
L. V. BEETHOVEN.

30.
CAUTION.

November, 1803.

Herr Carl Zulehner, a piratical engraver in
Mayence, has announced an edition of my collected
works for the pianoforte and also stringed instruments.
I consider it my duty publicly to inform
all friends of music that I have no share whatever
in this edition.

I would never have in any way authorized any
collection of my works (which, moreover, I consider
premature) without previously consulting the
publishers of single pieces, and ensuring that correctness
in which editions of my individual works
are so deficient. I must also observe that this illegal
edition cannot be complete, as several new
works of mine are shortly to appear in Paris, and
these Herr Zulehner, being a French subject, dare
not pirate. I intend to take another opportunity
of enumerating the details of the collection of my
works to be brought out under my own auspices
and careful revision.

LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN.

31.
TO HERR RIES.^[1]

1804.

Be so good as to make out a list of the mistakes
and send it at once to Simrock, and say that the
work must appear as soon as possible. I will send
him the Sonata [Op. 47] and the Concerto the day
after to-morrow.

BEETHOVEN.

32.
TO HERR RIES.

I must again ask you to undertake the disagreeable
task of making a fair copy of the errors in the
Zurich Sonata. I have got your list of errata “auf
der Wieden.”

33.
TO HERR RIES.

DEAR RIES,–

The signs are wrongly marked, and many of the
notes misplaced; so be careful! or your labor will
be vain. Ch’ a detto l’ amato bene?

34.
TO HERR RIES.

DEAR RIES,–

May I beg you to be so obliging as to copy this
andante [in the Kreuzer Sonata] for me, however
indifferently? I must send it off to-morrow, and
as Heaven alone knows what its fate may then be,
I wish to get it transcribed. But I must have it
back to-morrow about one o’clock. The cause of
my troubling you is that one of my copyists is already
very much occupied with various things of
importance, and the other is ill.

35.
TO THE COMPOSER LEIDESDORF,–VIENNA.^[1]

DORF DES LEIDES [VILLAGE OF SORROW–LEIDESDORF],–

Let the bearer of this, Herr Ries, have some
easy duets, and, better still, let him have them
for nothing. Conduct yourself in accordance with
the reformed doctrines. Farewell!

BEETHOVEN
Minimus.

36.
TO HERR RIES.

Baden, July 14, 1804.

DEAR RIES,–

If you can find me better lodgings, I shall be
very glad. Tell my brothers not to engage these
at once; I have a great desire to get one in a spacious,
quiet square or on the Bastei. It it really
inexcusable in my brother not to have provided
wine, as it is so beneficial and necessary to me. I
shall take care to be present at the rehearsal on
Wednesday. I am not pleased to hear that it is to
be at Schuppanzigh’s. He may well be grateful to
me if my impertinences make him thinner! Farewell,
dear Ries! We have bad weather here, and
I am not safe from visitors; so I must take flight
in order to be alone.

Your true friend,
L. V. BEETHOVEN.

37.
TO HERR RIES.

Baden, July, 1804.

DEAR RIES,–

As Breuning [see Nos. 13, 14, and 18] by his
conduct has not scrupled to display my character to
you and the house-steward as that of a mean, petty,
base man, I beg you will convey my reply at once
in person to Breuning. I answer only one point,
the first in his letter, and I do so solely because it
is the only mode of justifying myself in your eyes.
Say also to him that I had no intention of reproaching
him on account of the delay of the notice to
quit, and even if Breuning were really to blame
for this, our harmonious relations are so dear and
precious in my sight, that, for the sake of a few
hundreds more or less, I would never subject any
friend of mine to vexation. You are aware, indeed,
that I jestingly accused you as the cause of the notice
arriving too late. I am quite sure that you
must remember this. I had entirely forgotten the
whole matter, but at dinner my brother began to
say that he thought Breuning was to blame in the
affair, which I at once denied, saying that you were
in fault. I think this shows plainly enough that I
attributed no blame to Breuning; but on this he
sprang up like a madman, and insisted on sending
for the house-steward. Such behavior, in the
presence of all those with whom I usually associate,
and to which I am wholly unaccustomed, caused
me to lose all self-control; so I also started up, upset
my chair, left the room, and did not return.
This conduct induced Breuning to place me in a
pretty light to you and the house-steward, and also
to send me a letter which I only answered by silence.
I have not another word to say to Breuning.
His mode of thinking and of acting, with regard
to me, proves that there never ought to have
been such friendly intimacy between us, and assuredly
it can never more be restored. I wished
to make you acquainted with this, as your version
of the occurrence degraded both my words and actions.
I know that, had you been aware of the
real state of the affair, you would not have said
what you did, and with this I am satisfied.

I now beg of you, dear Ries, to go to my brother,
the apothecary, as soon as you receive this letter,
and say to him that I mean to leave Baden in the
course of a few days, and that he is to engage the
lodging in Döbling as soon as you have given him
this message. I had nearly left this to-day; I detest
being here–I am sick of it. For Heaven’s sake
urge him to close the bargain at once, for I want
to take possession immediately. Neither show nor
speak to any one of what is written in the previous
page of this letter. I wish to prove to him in every
respect that I am not so meanly disposed as he is.
Indeed I have written to him, although my resolve
as to the dissolution of our friendship remains firm
and unchangeable.

Your friend,
BEETHOVEN.

38.
TO HERR RIES.

Berlin, July 24, 1804.

… You were no doubt not a little surprised
about the affair with Breuning; believe me, my
dear friend, that the ebullition on my part was
only an outbreak caused by many previous scenes
of a disagreeable nature. I have the gift of being
able to conceal and to repress my susceptibility on
many occasions; but if attacked at a time when I
chance to be peculiarly irritable, I burst forth more
violently than any one. Breuning certainly possesses
many admirable qualities, but he thinks himself
quite faultless; whereas the very defects that
he discovers in others are those which he possesses
himself to the highest degree. From my childhood
I have always despised his petty mind. My
powers of discrimination enabled me to foresee the
result with Breuning, for our modes of thinking,
acting, and feeling are entirely opposite; and yet I
believed that these difficulties might be overcome,
but experience has disproved this. So now I want
no more of his friendship! I have only found two
friends in the world with whom I never had a misunderstanding;
but what men these were! One is
dead, the other still lives. Although for nearly six
years past we have seen nothing of each other, yet
I know that I still hold the first place in his heart,
as he does in mine [see No. 12]. The true basis
of friendship is to be found in sympathy of heart
and soul. I only wish you could have read the letter
I wrote to Breuning, and his to me. No!
never can he be restored to his former place in my
heart. The man who could attribute to his friend
so base a mode of thinking, and could himself have
recourse to so base a mode of acting towards him,
is no longer worthy of my friendship.

Do not forget the affair of my apartments.
Farewell! Do not be too much addicted to tailoring,^[1]
remember me to the fairest of the fair, and
send me half a dozen needles.

I never could have believed that I could be so
idle as I am here. If this be followed by a fit of
industry, something worth while may be produced.

Vale! Your
BEETHOVEN.

39.
TO MESSRS. ARTARIA & CO.^[1]

Vienna, June 1, 1805.

I must inform you that the affair about the new
quintet is settled between Count Fries and myself.

The Count has just assured me that he intends
to make you a present of it; it is too late to-day
for a written agreement on the subject, but one
shall be sent early in the ensuing week. This intelligence
must suffice for the present, and I think
I at all events deserve your thanks for it.

Your obedient servant,
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN.

40.
TO MADAME LA PRINCESSE LIECHTENSTEIN, &C.^[1]

November, 1805.

Pray pardon me, illustrious Princess, if the
bearer of this should cause you an unpleasant surprise.
Poor Ries, my scholar, is forced by this
unhappy war to shoulder a musket, and must moreover
leave this in a few days, being a foreigner.
He has nothing, literally nothing, and is obliged to
take a long journey. All chance of a concert on
his behalf is thus entirely at an end, and he must
have recourse to the benevolence of others. I recommend
him to you. I know you will forgive the
step I have taken. A noble-minded man would
only have recourse to such measures in the most
utter extremity. Confident of this, I send the poor
youth to you, in the hope of somewhat improving
his circumstances. He is forced to apply to all who
know him.

I am, with the deepest respect, yours,
L. VAN BEETHOVEN.

41.
TO HERR MEYER.^[1]

1805.

DEAR MEYER,–

Pray try to persuade Herr v. Seyfried to direct
my Opera, as I wish on this occasion to see and
hear it myself from a distance; in this way my patience
will at all events not be so severely tried as
when I am close enough to hear my music so bungled.
I really do believe that it is done on purpose
to annoy me! I will say nothing of the wind-instruments;
but all pp.‘s, cresc., discresc., and all
f.‘s and ff.‘s may as well be struck out of my Opera,
for no attention whatever is paid to them. I shall
lose all pleasure in composing anything in future,
if I am to hear it given thus. To-morrow or the
day after I will come to fetch you to dinner. To-day
I am again unwell.

Your friend,
BEETHOVEN.

If the Opera is to be performed the day after
to-morrow, there must be another private rehearsal
to-morrow, or each time it will be given worse
and worse.

42.
TESTIMONIAL FOR C. CZERNY.

Vienna, Dec. 7, 1805.

I, the undersigned, am glad to bear testimony
to young Carl Czerny having made the most extraordinary
progress on the pianoforte, far beyond
what might be expected at the age of fourteen. I
consider him deserving of all possible assistance,
not only from what I have already referred to, but
from his astonishing memory, and more especially
from his parents having spent all their means in
cultivating the talent of their promising son.

LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN.

43.
TO HERR RÖCKEL.^[1]

DEAR RÖCKEL,–

Be sure that you arrange matters properly with
Mdlle. Milder, and say to her previously from me,
that I hope she will not sing anywhere else. I intend
to call on her to-morrow, to kiss the hem of
her garment. Do not also forget Marconi, and forgive
me for giving you so much trouble.

Yours wholly,
BEETHOVEN.

44.
TO HERR COLLIN,^[1] COURT SECRETARY AND POET.

MY ESTEEMED COLLIN,–

I hear that you are about to fulfil my greatest
wish and your own purpose. Much as I desire to
express my delight to you in person, I cannot find
time to do so, having so much to occupy me. Pray
do not then ascribe this to any want of proper attention
towards you. I send you the “Armida”;
as soon as you have entirely done with it, pray return
it, as it does not belong to me. I am, with
sincere esteem,

Yours,
BEETHOVEN.

45.
TO HERR GLEICHENSTEIN.^[1]

I should like very much, my good Gleichenstein,
to speak to you this forenoon between one and two
o’clock, or in the afternoon, and where you please.
To-day I am too busy to call early enough to find
you at home. Give me an answer, and don’t forget
to appoint the place for us to meet. Farewell,
and continue your regard for your

BEETHOVEN.

46.
TO THE DIRECTORS OF THE COURT THEATRE.^[1]

Vienna, December, 1807.

The undersigned has cause to flatter himself
that during the period of his stay in Vienna he has
gained some favor and approbation from the highest
nobility, as well as from the public at large, his
works having met with an honorable reception both
in this and other countries. Nevertheless he has
had difficulties of every kind to contend against,
and has not hitherto been so fortunate as to acquire
a position that would enable him to live solely for art,
and to develop his talents to a still higher degree
of perfection, which ought to be the aim of every
artist, thus ensuring future independence instead of
mere casual profits.

The mere wish to gain a livelihood has never
been the leading clew that has hitherto guided the
undersigned on his path. His great aim has been
the interest of art and the ennobling of taste, while
his genius, soaring to a higher ideal and greater
perfection, frequently compelled him to sacrifice his
talents and profits to the Muse. Still works of this
kind won for him a reputation in distant lands, securing
him the most favorable reception in various
places of distinction, and a position befitting his
talents and acquirements.

The undersigned does not, however, hesitate to
say that this city is above all others the most precious
and desirable in his eyes, owing to the number
of years he has lived here, the favor and approval
he has enjoyed from both high and low, and
his wish fully to realize the expectations he has had
the good fortune to excite, but most of all, he may
truly say, from his patriotism as a German. Before,
therefore, making up his mind to leave a place
so dear to him, he begs to refer to a hint which the
reigning Prince Lichnowsky was so kind as to give
him, to the effect that the directors of the theatre
were disposed to engage the undersigned on reasonable
conditions in the service of their theatre,
and to ensure his remaining in Vienna by securing
to him a permanent position, more propitious to the
further exercise of his talents. As this assurance
is entirely in accordance with the wishes of the undersigned,
he takes the liberty, with all due respect,
to place before the directors his readiness to enter
into such an engagement, and begs to state the following
conditions for their gracious consideration.

1. The undersigned undertakes and pledges himself
to compose each year at least one grand opera,
to be selected by the directors and himself; in return
for this he demands a fixed salary of 2400
florins a year, and also a free benefit at the third
performance of each such opera.

2. He also agrees to supply the directors annually
with a little operetta or a divertissement, with
choruses or occasional music of the kind, as may be
required, gratis; he feels confident that on the other
hand the directors will not refuse, in return for
these various labors, to grant him a benefit concert at
all events once a year in one of the theatres. Surely
the above conditions cannot be thought exorbitant
or unreasonable, when the expenditure of time and
energy entailed by the production of an opera is
taken into account, as it entirely excludes the possibility
of all other mental exertion; in other places,
too, the author and his family have a share in the
profits of every individual performance, so that even
one successful work at once ensures the future fortunes
of the composer. It must also be considered
how prejudicial the present rate of exchange is to artists
here, and likewise the high price of the necessaries
of life, while a residence in foreign countries is
open to them.

But in any event, whether the directors accede
to or decline this present proposal, the undersigned
ventures to request that he may be permitted to
give a concert for his own benefit in one of the
theatres. For if his conditions be accepted, the
undersigned must devote all his time and talents to
the composition of such an opera, and thus be prevented
working in any other way for profit. In
case of the non-acceptance of these proposals, as
the concert he was authorized to give last year did
not take place owing to various obstacles, he would
entreat, as a parting token of the favor hitherto
vouchsafed to him, that the promise of last year may
now be fulfilled. In the former case, he would beg
to suggest Annunciation Day [March 25.] for his
concert, and in the latter a day during the ensuing
Christmas vacation.

LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN, M.P.
[Manu propria.]

47.
TO COUNT FRANZ VON OPPERSDORF.^[1]

Vienna, Nov. 1, 1808 [sic!].

MY DEAR COUNT,–

I fear you will look on me with displeasure when
I tell you that necessity compelled me not only to
dispose of the symphony I wrote for you, but to
transfer another also to some one else. Be assured,
however, that you shall soon receive the one I intend
for you. I hope that both you and the Countess,
to whom I beg my kind regards, have been
well since we met. I am at this moment staying
with Countess Erdödy in the apartments below
those of Prince Lichnowsky. I mention this in case
you do me the honor to call on me when you are in
Vienna. My circumstances are improving, without
having recourse to the intervention of people
who treat their friends insultingly. I have also the
offer of being made Kapellmeister to the King of
Westphalia, and it is possible that I may accept the
proposal. Farewell, and sometimes think of your
attached friend,

BEETHOVEN.

48.^[1]

I fear I am too late for to-day, but I have only
now been able to get back your memorial from
C—-, because H—- wished to add various items
here and there. I do beg of you to dwell chiefly
on the great importance to me of adequate opportunities
to exercise my art; by so doing you will
write what is most in accordance with my head and
my heart. The preamble must set forth what I am
to have in Westphalia–600 ducats in gold, 150
ducats for travelling expenses; all I have to do in
return for this sum being to direct the King’s [Jerome’s]
concerts, which are short and few in number.
I am not even bound to direct any opera I
may write. So, thus freed from all care, I shall be
able to devote myself entirely to the most important
object of my art–to write great works. An
orchestra is also to be placed at my disposition.

N.B. As member of a theatrical association, the
title need not be insisted on, as it can produce nothing
but annoyance. With regard to the Imperial
service, I think that point requires delicate handling,
and not less so the solicitation for the title of Imperial
Kapellmeister. It must, however, be made
quite clear that I am to receive a sufficient salary
from the Court to enable me to renounce the annuity
which I at present receive from the gentlemen
in question [the Archduke Rudolph, Prince
Kinsky, and Prince Lobkowitz], which I think will
be most suitably expressed by my stating that it is
my hope, and has ever been my most ardent wish,
to enter the Imperial service, when I shall be ready
to give up as much of the above salary as the sum
I am to receive from His Imperial Majesty amounts
to. (N.B. We must have it to-morrow at twelve
o’clock, as we go to Kinsky then. I hope to see
you to-day.)

49.

The aim and endeavor of every true artist must
be to acquire a position in which he can occupy
himself exclusively with the accomplishment of
great works, undisturbed by other avocations or by
considerations of economy. A composer, therefore,
can have no more ardent wish than to devote himself
wholly to the creation of works of importance,
to be produced before the public. He must also
keep in view the prospect of old age, in order to
make a sufficient provision for that period.

The King of Westphalia has offered Beethoven
a salary of 600 gold ducats for life, and 150 ducats
for travelling expenses, in return for which his sole
obligations are, occasionally to play before His
Majesty, and to conduct his chamber concerts,
which are both few and short. This proposal is of
a most beneficial nature both to art and the artist.

Beethoven, however, much prefers a residence in
this capital, feeling so much gratitude for the many
proofs of kindness he has received in it, and so
much patriotism for his adopted father-land, that he
will never cease to consider himself an Austrian artist,
nor take up his abode elsewhere, if anything
approaching to the same advantages are conferred
on him here.

As many persons of high, indeed of the very
highest rank, have requested him to name the conditions
on which he would be disposed to remain
here, in compliance with their wish he states as
follows:–

1. Beethoven must receive from some influential
nobleman security for a permanent salary for life:
various persons of consideration might contribute
to make up the amount of this salary, which, at the
present increased price of all commodities, must
not consist of less than 4000 florins per annum.
Beethoven’s wish is that the donors of this sum
should be considered as cooperating in the production
of his future great works, by thus enabling
him to devote himself entirely to these labors, and
by relieving him from all other occupations.

2. Beethoven must always retain the privilege of
travelling in the interests of art, for in this way
alone can he make himself known, and acquire
some fortune.

3. His most ardent desire and eager wish is to
be received into the Imperial service, when such an
appointment would enable him partly or wholly to
renounce the proposed salary. In the mean time
the title of Imperial Kapellmeister would be very
gratifying to him; and if this wish could be realized,
the value of his abode here would be much enhanced
in his eyes.

If his desire be fulfilled, and a salary granted by
His Majesty to Beethoven, he will renounce so
much of the said 4000 florins as the Imperial salary
shall amount to; or if this appointment be 4000
florins, he will give up the whole of the former
sum.

4. As Beethoven wishes from time to time to
produce before the public at large his new great
works, he desires an assurance from the present
directors of the theatre on their part, and that of
their successors, that they will authorize him to
give a concert for his own benefit every year on
Palm Sunday, in the Theatre “an der Wien.” In
return for which Beethoven agrees to arrange and
direct an annual concert for the benefit of the poor,
or, if this cannot be managed, at all events to furnish
a new work of his own for such a concert.

50.
TO ZMESKALL.

December, 1808.

MY EXCELLENT FRIEND,–

All would go well now if we had only a curtain,
without it the Aria [“Ah! Perfido”] will be a
failure.^[1] I only heard this to-day from S. [Seyfried],
and it vexes me much: a curtain of any
kind will do, even a bed-curtain, or merely a kind
of gauze screen, which could be instantly removed.
There must be something; for the Aria is in the
dramatic style, and better adapted for the stage than
for effect in a concert-room. Without a curtain, or
something of the sort, the Aria will be devoid of all
meaning, and ruined! ruined! ruined!! Devil take
it all! The Court will probably be present.
Baron Schweitzer [Chamberlain of the Archduke
Anton] requested me earnestly to make the application
myself. Archduke Carl granted me an
audience and promised to come. The Empress
neither promised nor refused.

A hanging curtain!!!! or the Aria and I will
both be hanged to-morrow. Farewell! I embrace
you as cordially on this new year as in the old one.
With or without a curtain! Your

BEETHOVEN.

51.
TO FERDINAND RIES.^[1]

1809.

MY DEAR FELLOW,–

Your friends have at any rate given you very
bad advice; but I know all about them: they are the
very same to whom you sent that fine news about
me from Paris; the very same who inquired about
my age–information that you contrived to supply
so correctly!–the very same who have often before
injured you in my opinion, but now permanently.
Farewell!

BEETHOVEN.

52.
TO ZMESKALL.^[1]

March 7, 1809.

It is just what I expected! As to the blows,
that is rather far-fetched. The story is at least
three months’ old, and very different from what he
now makes it out to be. The whole stupid affair
was caused by a female huckster and a couple of
low fellows. I lose very little. He no doubt was
corrupted in the very house where I am now living.

53.
TO ZMESKALL.

My most excellent, high, and well-born Herr v.
Zmeskall, Court Secretary and Member of the
Society of the Single Blessed,–If I come to see
you to-day, ascribe it to the fact that a person
wishes to speak to me at your house whom I could
not refuse to see. I come without any card from
you, but I hope you will not on that account discard
me.

Yours truly–most truly,
L. V. BEETHOVEN.

54.
TO ZMESKALL.

It seems to me, dear Zmeskall, if war really
does break out, when it comes to an end you will
be the very man for an appointment in the Peace
Legation. What a glorious office!!! I leave it
entirely to you to do the best you can about my
servant, only henceforth Countess Erdödy must not
attempt to exercise the smallest influence over him.
She says she made him a present of twenty-five
florins, and gave him five florins a month, solely to
induce him to stay with me. I cannot refuse to
believe this trait of generosity, but I do not choose
that it should be repeated. Farewell! I thank
you for your friendship, and hope soon to see you.

Yours ever,
BEETHOVEN.

55.
TO ZMESKALL.^[1]

April 16, 1809.

If I cannot come to-day, dear Zmeskall which
is very possible, ask Baroness von —- [name illegible]
to give you the pianoforte part of the Trios,
and be so good as to send them and the other parts
to me to-day.

In haste, your
BEETHOVEN.

56.
TO ZMESKALL.

April 17, 1809.

DEAR Z.,–

A suitable lodging has just been found out for
me, but I need some one to help me in the affair. I
cannot employ my brother, because he only recommends
what costs least money. Let me know,
therefore, if we can go together to look at the
house. It is in the Klepperstall.^[1]

57.
TO ZMESKALL.

April 25, 1809.

I shall be glad, right glad, to play. I send you
the violoncello part; if you find that you can
manage it, play it yourself, or let old Kraft^[1] do so.
I will tell you about the lodging when we meet.

Your friend,
BEETHOVEN.

58.
TO ZMESKALL.^[1]

May 14, 1809.

MY DEAR LITTLE MUSICAL OLD COUNT!–

I think after all it would be advisable to let old
Kraft play, as the trios are to be heard for the first
time (in society), and you can play them afterwards;
but I leave it all to your own option. If
you meet with any difficulties, one of which may
possibly be that Kraft and S. [Schuppanzigh] do
not harmonize well together, then Herr v. Zmeskall
must distinguish himself, not as a mere musical
Count, but as an energetic musician.

Your friend,
BEETHOVEN.

59.
TO FREIHERR V. HAMMER-PURGSTALL.^[1]

1809.

I feel almost ashamed of your complaisance and
kindness in permitting me to see the MS. of your
as yet unknown literary treasures. Pray receive
my sincere thanks. I also beg to return both your
operettas. Wholly engrossed by my professional
avocations, it is impossible for me to give an opinion,
especially with regard to the Indian Operetta; as
soon as time permits, I will call on you for the
purpose of discussing this subject, and also the
Oratorio of “The Deluge.” Pray always include
me among the warm admirers of your great
talents.

I am, sir, with sincere esteem, your obedient
BEETHOVEN.

60.
TO FREIHERR V. HAMMER-PURGSTALL.^[1]

1809.

Forgive me, my dear H—-, for not having
brought you the letter for Paris. I have been, and
still am, so much occupied, that day after day I am
obliged to delay writing it, but you shall have it to-morrow,
even if I am unable to come myself to see
you, which I am most anxious to do.

There is another matter that I would most
earnestly press on you; perhaps you might succeed
in doing something for a poor unfortunate man. I
allude to Herr Stoll, son of the celebrated physician.
With many persons the question is whether
a man has been ruined by his own fault or by that
of others, but this is not so with either you or me;
it is sufficient that Stoll is unfortunate, and looks on
a journey to Paris as his sole resource, having last
year made many influential acquaintances, who,
when he goes there, are to endeavor to procure
him a professorship in Westphalia. Stoll has therefore
applied to Herr v. Neumann, in the State
Chancery Office, to send him with a government
courier to Paris, but the latter refuses to take him
for less than twenty-five louis d’or. Now I request
you, my dear friend, to speak to Herr v. Neumann
to arrange, if possible, that the courier should
either take Stoll gratis, or for a small sum. I am
persuaded that if there is nothing particular against
it, you will be glad to interest yourself in poor Stoll.
I return to the country to-day, but hope soon to be
so fortunate as to enjoy an hour of your society.
In the mean time I send you my best wishes, and
beg you will believe in the sincere esteem of

Your obedient
LUDWIG v. BEETHOVEN.

61.
TO BARONESS VON DROSSDICK.

MY ESTEEMED THÉRÈSE,–

You will receive with this what I promised.
Had not many serious obstacles intervened, I would
have sent you more, in order to show you that
where my friends are concerned I always perform
more than I promise. I hope, and do not doubt,
that you are agreeably occupied and enjoying
society, but not too much, I trust, to prevent your
thinking of us. It would show too much confidence
in you, or too high an estimation of my own
merits, were I to attribute the sentiment to you,
“That people are not together only when present,
but that the absent and the dead also live with us.”
Who could ascribe such a thought to the volatile
Thérèse, who takes the world so lightly? Among
your various occupations, do not forget the piano,
or rather, music in general, for which you have so
fine a talent: why not then seriously cultivate it?
You, who have so much feeling for the good and
the beautiful, should strive to recognize the perfections
of so charming an art, which in return always
casts so bright a reflection on us.

I live in entire quiet and solitude, and even
though occasional flashes of light arouse me, still
since you all left this I feel a hopeless void which
even my art, usually so faithful to me, has not yet
triumphed over. Your pianoforte is ordered, and
you shall soon have it. What a difference you
must have discovered between the treatment of the
theme I extemporized on the other evening and
the mode in which I have recently written it out
for you? You must explain this yourself, only do
not find the solution in the punch! How happy
you are to get away so soon to the country! I
cannot enjoy this luxury till the 8th. I look forward
to it with the delight of a child. What happiness
I shall feel in wandering among groves and
woods, and among trees, and plants, and rocks!
No man on earth can love the country as I do!
Thickets, trees, and rocks supply the echo man
longs for!

You shall soon receive some more of my compositions,
which will not cause you to complain so
much of difficulties. Have you read Goethe’s
“Wilhelm Meister,” and Schlegel’s “Translations
of Shakspeare”? People have so much leisure in
the country, that perhaps you would like me to send
you these works? It happens that I have an acquaintance
in your neighborhood; so perhaps you
may see me some morning early for half an hour,
after which I must be off again. You will also observe
that I intend to bore you for as short a time
as possible.^[1]

Commend me to the regard of your father and
mother, though I have as yet no right to claim it.
Remember me also to your cousin M. [Mathilde].
Farewell, my esteemed Thérèse; I wish you all
the good and charm that life can offer. Think of
me kindly, and forget my follies. Rest assured that
no one would more rejoice to hear of your happiness,
even were you to feel no interest in your devoted
servant and friend,

BEETHOVEN.

N.B. It would be very amiable in you to write
me a few lines, to say if I can be of any use to you
here.

62.
À MDLLE. MDLLE. DE GERARDI.^[1]

DEAR MDLLE. G.,–

I cannot with truth deny that the verses you
sent have considerably embarrassed me. It causes
a strange sensation to see and hear yourself praised,
and yet to be conscious of your own defects, as I
am. I consider such occurrences as mere incitements
to strive to draw nearer the unattainable
goal set before us by Art and Nature, difficult as it
may be. These verses are truly beautiful, with the
exception of one fault that we often find in poets,
which is, their being misled by Fancy to believe
that they really do see and hear what they wish to
see and hear, and yet even this is far below their
ideal. You may well believe that I wish to become
acquainted with the poet or poetess; pray receive
also yourself my thanks for the kindly feeling you
show towards your sincere friend,

L. V. BEETHOVEN.

63.
TO ZMESKALL.^[1]

January 23, 1810.

What are you about? My gayety yesterday,
though only assumed, has not only vexed but offended
you. The uninvited guests seemed so little
to deserve your ill-humor, that I endeavored to use
all my friendly influence to prevent your giving
way to it, by my pretended flow of spirits. I am
still suffering from indigestion. Say whether you
can meet me at the “Swan” to-day.

Your true friend,
BEETHOVEN.

64.
TO WEGELER.

Vienna, May 2, 1810.

MY DEAR OLD FRIEND,–

These lines may very possibly cause you some
surprise, and yet, though you have no written
proof of it, I always retain the most lively remembrance
of you. Among my MSS. is one that has
long been destined for you, and which you shall
certainly receive this summer. For the last two
years my secluded and quiet life has been at an end,
and I have been forcibly drawn into the vortex of
the world; though as yet I have attained no good
result from this,–nay, perhaps rather the reverse,
–but who has not been affected by the storms
around us? Still I should not only be happy, but
the happiest of men, if a demon had not taken up
his settled abode in my ears. Had I not somewhere
read that man must not voluntarily put an end to
his life while he can still perform even one good
deed, I should long since have been no more, and
by my own hand too! Ah! how fair is life; but for
me it is forever poisoned!

You will not refuse me one friendly service, which
is to procure me my baptismal certificate. As
Steffen Breuning has an account with you, he can
pay any expenses you may incur, and I will repay
him here. If you think it worth while to make
the inquiry in person, and choose to make a journey
from Coblenz to Bonn, you have only to charge
it all to me. I must, however, warn you that I
had an elder brother whose name was also Ludwig,
with the second name of Maria, who died. In order
to know my precise age, the date of my birth
must be first ascertained, this circumstance having
already led others into error, and caused me to be
thought older than I really am. Unluckily, I lived
for some time without myself knowing my age [see
Nos. 26 and 51]. I had a book containing all family
incidents, but it has been lost, Heaven knows
how! So pardon my urgently requesting you to
try to discover Ludwig Maria’s birth, as well as
that of the present Ludwig. The sooner you can
send me the certificate of baptism the more obliged
shall I be.^[1]
I am told that you sing one of my songs
in your Freemason Lodge, probably the one in E
major, which I have not myself got; send it to me,
and I promise to compensate you threefold and
fourfold.^[2]
Think of me with kindness, little as I
apparently deserve it. Embrace your dear wife
and children, and all whom you love, in the name
of your friend,

BEETHOVEN.

65.
TO ZMESKALL.

July 9, 1810.

DEAR Z.,–

You are about to travel, and so am I on account
of my health. In the mean time all goes topsy-turvy
with me. The Herr^[1]
wants to have me
with him, and Art is not less urgent in her claims.
I am partly in Schönbrunn and partly here; every
day assailed by messages from strangers and new
acquaintances, and even as regards art I am often
driven nearly distracted by my undeserved fame.
Fortune seeks me, and for that very reason I almost
dread some new calamity. As for your
“Iphigénie,” the facts are these. I have not seen
it for the last two years and a half, and have no
doubt lent it to some one; but to whom?–that is
the question. I have sent in all directions, and
have not yet discovered it, but hope still to find it.
If lost, you shall be indemnified. Farewell, my
dear Z. I trust that when we meet again you
will find that my art has made some progress in
the interim.

Ever remain my friend, as much as I am yours,

BEETHOVEN.

66.
TO BETTINA BRENTANO.^[1]

Vienna, August 11, 1810.

MY DEAREST FRIEND,–

Never was there a lovelier spring than this year;
I say so, and feel it too, because it was then I first
knew you. You have yourself seen that in society
I am like a fish on the sand, which writhes and
writhes, but cannot get away till some benevolent
Galatea casts it back into the mighty ocean. I was
indeed fairly stranded, dearest friend, when surprised
by you at a moment in which moroseness had
entirely mastered me; but how quickly it vanished
at your aspect! I was at once conscious that you
came from another sphere than this absurd world,
where, with the best inclinations, I cannot open my
ears. I am a wretched creature, and yet I complain
of others!! You will forgive this from the
goodness of heart that beams in your eyes, and the
good sense manifested by your ears; at least they
understand how to flatter, by the mode in which
they listen. My ears are, alas! a partition-wall,
through which I can with difficulty hold any intercourse
with my fellow-creatures. Otherwise, perhaps,
I might have felt more assured with you; but
I was only conscious of the full, intelligent glance
from your eyes, which affected me so deeply that
never can I forget it. My dear friend! dearest
girl!–Art! who comprehends it? with whom can
I discuss this mighty goddess? How precious to
me were the few days when we talked together, or,
I should rather say, corresponded! I have carefully
preserved the little notes with your clever,
charming, most charming answers; so I have to
thank my defective hearing for the greater part of
our fugitive intercourse being written down. Since
you left this I have had some unhappy hours,–hours
of the deepest gloom, when I could do nothing.
I wandered for three hours in the Schönbrunn
Allée after you left us, but no angel met me there
to take possession of me as you did. Pray forgive,
my dear friend, this deviation from the original key,
but I must have such intervals as a relief to my
heart. You have no doubt written to Goethe
about me? I would gladly bury my head in a
sack, so that I might neither see nor hear what goes
on in the world, because I shall meet you there no
more; but I shall get a letter from you? Hope
sustains me, as it does half the world; through life
she has been my close companion, or what would
have become of me? I send you “Kennst Du das
Land,” written with my own hand, as a remembrance
of the hour when I first knew you; I send
you also another that I composed since I bade you
farewell, my dearest, fairest sweetheart!

Herz, mein Herz, was soll das geben,
Was bedränget dich so sehr;
Welch ein neues fremdes Leben,
Ich erkenne dich nicht mehr.

Now answer me, my dearest friend, and say what
is to become of me since my heart has turned such
a rebel. Write to your most faithful friend,

BEETHOVEN.

67.
TO BETTINA BRENTANO.

Vienna, Feb. 10, 1811.

DEAR AND BELOVED FRIEND,–

I have now received two letters from you, while
those to Tonie show that you still remember me,
and even too kindly. I carried your letter about
with me the whole summer, and it often made me
feel very happy; though I do not frequently write
to you, and you never see me, still I write you letters
by thousands in my thoughts. I can easily
imagine what you feel at Berlin in witnessing all
the noxious frivolity of the world’s rabble,^[1] even
had you not written it to me yourself. Such prating
about art, and yet no results!!! The best description
of this is to be found in Schiller’s poem
“Die Flüsse,” where the river Spree is supposed to
speak. You are going to be married, my dear
friend, or are already so, and I have had no chance
of seeing you even once previously. May all the
felicity that marriage ever bestowed on husband
and wife attend you both! What can I say to you
of myself? I can only exclaim with Johanna,
“Compassionate my fate!” If I am spared for
some years to come, I will thank the Omniscient,
the Omnipotent, for the boon, as I do for all other
weal and woe. If you mention me when you write
to Goethe, strive to find words expressive of my
deep reverence and admiration. I am about to
write to him myself with regard to “Egmont,” for
which I have written some music solely from my
love for his poetry, which always delights me. Who
can be sufficiently grateful to a great poet,–the
most precious jewel of a nation! Now no more, my
dear sweet friend! I only came home this morning
at four o’clock from an orgy, where I laughed
heartily, but to-day I feel as if I could weep as
sadly; turbulent pleasures always violently recoil
on my spirits. As for Clemens [Brentano, her
brother], pray thank him for his complaisance;
with regard to the Cantata, the subject is not important
enough for us here–it is very different in
Berlin; and as for my affection, the sister engrosses
so large a share, that little remains for the brother.
Will he be content with this?

Now farewell, my dear, dear friend; I imprint a
sorrowful kiss on your forehead, thus impressing my
thoughts on it as with a seal. Write soon, very
soon, to your brother,

BEETHOVEN.

68.
TO ZMESKALL.

1811.

I am disposed to engage a man who has just offered
me his services,–a music-copyist. His parents
live in Vienna, which might be convenient in many
respects, but I first wish to speak to you about the
terms; and as you are disengaged to-morrow, which
I,

BEETHOVEN.

69.
TO ZMESKALL.

1811.

MOST HIGH-BORN OF MEN!–

We beg you to confer some goose-quills on us;
we will in return send you a whole bunch of the
same sort, that you may not be obliged to pluck out
your own. It is just possible that you may yet receive
the Grand Cross of the Order of the Violoncello.
We remain your gracious and most friendly
of all friends,

BEETHOVEN.

70.
TO THE ARCHDUKE RUDOLPH.^[1]

The Spring of 1811.

YOUR ROYAL HIGHNESS,–

As in spite of every effort I can find no copyist
to write in my house, I send you my own manuscript;
all you have to do is to desire Schlemmer
to get you an efficient copyist, who must, however,
write out the Trio in your palace, otherwise there
would be no security against piracy. I am better,
and hope to have the honor of waiting on you in the
course of a few days, when we must strive to make
up for lost time. I always feel anxious and uneasy
when I do not attend your Royal Highness as often
or as assiduously as I wish. It is certainly the truth
when I say that the loss is mine, but I trust I shall
not soon again be so unwell. Be graciously pleased
to remember me; the time may yet come when I
shall be able to show you doubly and trebly that
I deserve this more than ever.

I am your Royal Highness’s devoted servant,
LUDWIG V. BEETHOVEN.

71.

MY DEAR FRIEND,–^[1]

I have taken this trouble only that I might figure
correctly, and thus be able sometimes to lead
others. As for mistakes, I scarcely ever required
to have them pointed out to me, having had from
my childhood such a quick perception, that I exercised
it unconscious that it ought to be so, or in fact
could be otherwise.

72.
TO THE DRAMATIC POET TREITSCHKE.

June 6, 1811.

DEAR TREITSCHKE,–

Have you read the book, and may I venture to
hope that you will be persuaded to undertake it?
Be so good as to give me an answer, as I am prevented
going to you myself. If you have already
read it, then send it back to me, that I may also
look over it again before you begin to work at it.
Above all, if it be your good pleasure that I should
soar to the skies on the wings of your poetry, I entreat
you to effect this as soon as possible.

Your obedient servant,
L. V. BEETHOVEN.

73.
TO ZMESKALL.

Sept. 10, 1811.

DEAR ZMESKALL,–

Let the rehearsal stand over for the present. I
must see my doctor again to-day, of whose bungling
I begin to tire. Thanks for your metronome; let
us try whether we can measure Time into Eternity
with it, for it is so simple and easily managed that
there seems to be no impediment to this! In the
mean time we will have a conference on the subject.
The mathematical precision of clockwork is of
course greater; yet formerly, in watching the little
experiments you made in my presence, I thought
there was something worthy of notice in your metronome,
and I hope we shall soon succeed in setting
it thoroughly right. Ere long I hope to see you.

Your friend,
BEETHOVEN.

74.
TO ZMESKALL.

Oct. 26, 1811.

I shall be at the “Swan” to-day, and hope to
meet you there to a certainty, but don’t come too
late. My foot is better; the author of so many
poetical feet promises the head author a sound foot
within a week’s time.

75.
TO ZMESKALL.

Nov. 20, 1811.

We are deucedly obliged to you. We beg you
to be careful not to lose your well-earned fame.
You are exhorted to pursue the same course, and
we remain once more your deucedly attached

LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN.

76.
TO ZMESKALL.

Jan. 19, 1812.

I shall be at the “Swan” to-day, dear Z. I
have, alas! too much leisure, and you none! Your

BEETHOVEN.

77.
TO ZMESKALL.^[1]

1812.

CONFOUNDED LITTLE QUONDAM MUSICAL COUNT!

What the deuce has become of you? Are you
to be at the “Swan” to-day? No? … Yes! See
from this enclosure what I have done for Hungary.
When a German undertakes a thing, even without
pledging his word, he acts very differently from
one of those Hungarian Counts, such as B. [Brunswick],
who allowed me to travel by myself–from
what paltry, miserable motive who can tell?–and
kept me waiting, though he did not wait for me!

My excellent little quondam musical Count,

I am now, as ever, your attached
BEETHÖVERL.

Return the enclosure, for we wish to bring it,
and something else, pretty forcibly under the notice
of the Count.

78.
TO ZMESKALL.

You are summoned to appear to-day at the
“Swan;” Brunswick also comes. If you do not appear,
you are henceforth excluded from all that concerns
us. Excuses per excellentiam cannot be accepted.
Obedience is enjoined, knowing that we are
acting for your benefit, and that our motive is to
guard you against temptations and faithlessness per
excellentiam–dixi.

BEETHOVEN.

79.
TO ZMESKALL.

DEAR ZMESKALL,–

The well-known watchmaker who lives close to
the Freiung is to call on you. I want a first-rate
repeater, for which he asks forty ducats. As you
like that kind of thing, I beg you will exert yourself
on my behalf, and select a really good watch
for me.

With the most enthusiastic admiration for a man
like yourself, who is soon to give me an opportunity
of displaying in his favor my particular knowledge
of horn-playing, I am your

LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN.

80.
TO KAMMERPROCURATOR VARENNA,–GRATZ.^[1]

1812.

If the wish to benefit the poor were not so evident
in your letter, I should have felt not a little
offended by your accompanying your request to
me by the offer of payment. From my childhood,
whenever my art could be serviceable to poor suffering
humanity, I have never allowed any other motive
to influence me, and never required anything
beyond the heartfelt gratification that it always
caused me. With this you will receive an Oratorio–(A),
the performance of which occupies half an
evening, also an Overture and a Fantasia with Chorus–(B).
If in your benevolent institution you
possess a dépôt for such things, I beg you will deposit
these three works there, as a mark of my sympathy
for the destitute; to be considered as their property,
and to be given at any concerts intended for
their sole benefit. In addition to these, you will
receive an Introduction to the “Ruins of Athens,”
the score of which shall be written out for you as
soon as possible. Likewise a Grand Overture to
“Ungarn’s erste Wohlthäter” [Hungary’s First
Benefactors].

Both form part of two works that I wrote for the
Hungarians at the opening of their new theatre [in
Pesth]. Pray give me, however, your written assurance
that these works shall not be performed
elsewhere, as they are not published, nor likely to
be so for some time to come. You shall receive
the latter Grand Overture as soon as it is returned
to me from Hungary, which it will be in the course
of a few days.

The engraved Fantasia with Chorus could no
doubt be executed by a lady, an amateur, mentioned
to me here by Professor Schneller.^[2] The
words after the Chorus No. 4, in C major, were
altered by the publishers, and are now quite contrary
to the musical expression; those written in
pencil, therefore, on the music must be sung. If
you can make use of the Oratorio, I can send you
all the parts written out, so that the outlay may be
less for the poor. Write to me about this.

Your obedient
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN.

81.
TO ZMESKALL.

Feb. 2, 1812.

By no means extraordinary, but very ordinary
mender of pens! whose talent has failed on this occasion
(for those I send require to be fresh mended),
when do you intend at last to cast off your fetters?–when?
You never for a moment think of me;
accursed to me is life amid this Austrian barbarism.
I shall go now chiefly to the “Swan,” as in other
taverns I cannot defend myself against intrusion.
Farewell! that is, fare as well as I wish you to do
without

Your friend,
BEETHOVEN.

Most wonderful of men! We beg that your
servant will engage a person to fit up my apartment;
as he is acquainted with the lodgings, he
can fix the proper price at once. Do this soon,
you Carnival scamp!!!!!!!

The enclosed note is at least a week old.

82.
TO ZMESKALL.

Feb. 8, 1812.

Most extraordinary and first and foremost man
of the pendulum in the world, and without a lever
too!!!

I am much indebted to you for having imparted
to me some share of your motive power. I wish to
express my gratitude in person, and therefore invite
you this morning to come to the “Swan,”–a tavern,
the name of which itself shows that it is a fitting
place when such a subject is in question,

Yours ever,
BEETHOVEN.

83.
TO VARENNA,–GRATZ.

Vienna, Feb. 8, 1812.

Herr Rettich has already got the parts of the
Oratorio, and when you no longer require them I
beg you will send them back to me. It is not
probable that anything is wanting, but even in that
case, as you have the score, you can easily remedy
this. I only yesterday received the Overtures from
Hungary, and shall have them copied and forwarded
to you as soon as possible. I likewise send a March
with a vocal Chorus, also from the “Ruins of
Athens.” Altogether you will now have sufficient
to fill up the time.

As these pieces are only in manuscript, I shall let
you know at the time I send them what precautions
I wish you to take with regard to the Overtures
and the March with Chorus.

As I do not publish any new work until a year
after its composition, and, when I do so, am obliged
invariably to give a written assurance to the publisher
that no one is in possession of it, you can
yourself perceive that I must carefully guard against
any possible contingency or casualty as to these
pieces. I must, however, assure you that I shall
always be disposed to show the warmest zeal in aid
of your charity, and I here pledge myself to send
you every year works that exist solely in manuscript,
or compositions written expressly for this
charitable purpose. I beg you will also let me know
what your future plans are with regard to your
institution, that I may act accordingly.

Farewell! I remain, with the highest consideration,

Your obedient
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN.

84.
TO ZMESKALL.^[1]

Feb. 19, 1812.

DEAR Z.,–

I only yesterday received the written information
that the Archduke pays his share in the new
paper-money of the full value [Einlösungsschein].
I beg you will write out for me, as nearly as you
can, the substance of what you said on Sunday, and
which we thought it advisable to send to the other
two. I am offered a certificate that the Archduke
is to pay in Einlösungsschein, but I think this unnecessary,
more especially as the people about
Court, in spite of all their apparent friendship for
me, declare that my demands are not just!!!! O
Heaven! aid me in enduring this! I am no Hercules,
to help Atlas in carrying the world, or to
strive to do so in his place. It was only yesterday
that I heard the particulars of the handsome manner
in which Baron von Kraft had judged and
spoken of me to Zisius! But never mind, dear
Z.! My endurance of these shameful attacks cannot
continue much longer; persecuted art will
everywhere find an asylum–Daedalus, though
imprisoned in a labyrinth, found wings to carry him
aloft. Oh! I too shall find wings!

Yours ever,
BEETHOVEN.

If you have time, send me this morning the
draft of the memorial;–probably for nothing, and
to receive nothing! so much time is already lost,
and only to be kept in suspense by civil words!

85.
TO VARENNA.

Lent, 1812.

In spite of my anxiety to serve the cause of your
charity, I have been quite unable to do so. I have
no copyist of my own to write for me as formerly,
and the limited time renders it impossible for me to
do so myself; thus I am obliged to have recourse to
strangers as copyists. One of these promised to
write out the Overtures, &c., &c., for you; but
Passion Week intervening, when there are so many
concerts, prevented his being able to keep his word,
in spite of every effort on my part. Even if the
Overtures and the March with Chorus were transcribed,
it would not be possible to send them by this
post, and if we wait for the next, the music will arrive
too late for Easter Sunday. Let me know if
there are any means you could adopt to gain a little
more time, or any chance opportunity of sending
these works to you, and I will do all that lies in my
power to aid the cause of your charity.

I am, with esteem, yours obediently,
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN.

86.
TO THE ARCHDUKE RUDOLPH.^[1]

1812.

YOUR IMPERIAL HIGHNESS,–

I was much vexed not to receive Y.I.H.’s message
to come to you till very late yesterday evening–indeed
nearly at eleven o’clock. Contrary
to my usual custom, I did not go home at all during
the afternoon, the fine weather having tempted
me to spend the whole afternoon in walking, and
the evening at the Banda, “auf der Wieden,” and
thus I was not aware of your wish till I returned
home. In the mean time, whenever Y.I.H. desires
it, I am ready at any hour or moment to place
myself at your disposal. I therefore await your
gracious commands.

I am your Imperial Highness’s most obedient
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN.

87.
TO THE ARCHDUKE RUDOLPH.

1812.

YOUR IMPERIAL HIGHNESS,–

I was unable till to-day, when I leave my bed
for the first time, to answer your gracious letter.
It will be impossible for me to wait on you to-morrow,
but perhaps the day after. I have suffered
much during the last few days, and I may say two-fold
from not being in a condition to devote a great
part of my time to you, according to my heartfelt
wish. I hope now, however, to have cleared off
all scores for spring and summer (I mean as to
health).

I am your Imperial Highness’s most obedient
servant,

LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN.

88.
TO VARENNA,–GRATZ.

Vienna, May 8, 1812.

SIR,–

Being still far from well, and much occupied, I
have been unable to reply to your letters. How in
the world did such an unfounded idea ever occur to
you as that I was displeased? It would certainly
have been better had you returned the music as
soon as it had been performed; for at that period I
could have produced it here, whereas now, unluckily,
it comes too late; but I only say unluckily because
it prevents my being able to spare the worthy
ladies the expenses of copying. At any other time
I would on no account have allowed them to pay
for writing out the works, but it so happens that at
this moment I am visited with every kind of contretemps,
so I cannot avoid doing so. Possibly Herr
O., although with the best intentions, has delayed
informing you of this, which obliged me to apply to
him for repayment of the expenses of copying; perhaps,
too, in my haste, I did not express myself distinctly.
You can now, esteemed sir, have the Overture
and the Chorus again if you require them.

I feel convinced that in any event you will prevent
my confidence being abused; in the mean time
you may keep the Overture on the conditions I
have stated. If I find that I am able to pay for
the copying, I will redeem it for my own use.

The score of the Oratorio is a gift, and also the
Overture to “Egmont.” Keep the parts of the
Oratorio beside you till you can have it performed.

Select whatever you choose for the concert which
I hear you now intend to give, and if you decide on
the Chorus and the Overture, they shall be forwarded
to you at once. For the future concert, for
the benefit of the venerable Ursulines, I promise
you an entirely new symphony at all events, and
perhaps also a work of some importance for voices,
and as I have now a favorable opportunity, the
copying shall not cost you a farthing. My joy
would be beyond all bounds if the concert were to
be successful, and I could spare you all expense;–at
all events, take my good-will for granted.

Remember me to the admirable teachers of the
children, and say to them that I shed tears of joy
at the happy result of my poor good-will, and that
so far as my humble capabilities can serve them,
they shall always find in me the warmest sympathy.

My cordial thanks for your invitation; I would
fain become acquainted with the interesting scenery
of Styria, and possibly I may one day enjoy that
pleasure. Farewell! I heartily rejoice in having
found in you a friend to the poor and needy, and
am always yours to command.

LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN, M.P.

89.
TO JOSEPH FREIHERR VON SCHWEIGER, CHAMBERLAIN OF THE
ARCHDUKE RUDOLPH.^[1]

1812.

The most insignificant of mortals has just been
to wait on his gracious master, when he found
everything closed; so he came here, where indeed
all was open, but no one to be found except the
trusty servant. I had a heavy packet of music with
me, in order to ensure a good musical evening before
we parted; but in vain. Malfatti^[2] is resolved
that I shall go to Töplitz, which is anything but
agreeable to me. As, however, I must obey, I
hope at least that my gracious master will not enjoy
himself quite so much without me. O vanitas!
for it is nothing else. Before I set off for Töplitz
I will either go to Baden to see you or write.
Farewell! Pray present my homage to my gracious
master, and continue your regard for

Your friend,
[K.] BEETHOVEN.

90.
TO VARENNA,–GRATZ.

Töplitz, July 19, 1812.

My thanks have been too long delayed for all the
dainties which the worthy ladies sent for my enjoyment;
being constantly ill in Vienna, I was at last
forced to take refuge here.

However, better late than never; so I beg you
will say all sorts of kind things in my name to the
admirable Ursuline ladies, though I did not deserve
so much gratitude; indeed it is rather for me to
thank Him who enables me to render my art occasionally
useful to others. When you next wish to
make use of my poor abilities for the benefit of the
venerable ladies, you have only to write to me.

A new symphony is now ready for you, and as
the Archduke Rudolph has had it copied out, it will
cost you nothing. Perhaps I may one of these
days be able to send you something vocal. I only
wish and hope that you will not ascribe my anxiety
to serve these venerable ladies to a certain degree
of vanity or desire for fame, as this would grieve
me exceedingly. If these good ladies wish to do
me any service in return, I beg they will include
me with their pupils in their pious orisons. I remain,
with esteem,

Your friend,
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN.

I shall remain here for some weeks; so if there is
any occasion to write, address to me here.

91.
WRITTEN IN THE ALBUM OF THE SINGER, MDME. AUGUSTE
SEBALD.

Töplitz, August 8, 1812.

LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN,

Who even if you would,
Forget you never should.

92.
TO H.R. HIGHNESS THE ARCHDUKE RUDOLPH.

Franzensbrunn, Aug. 12, 1812.

It was my bounden duty long ago to have recalled
myself to Y.R.H.’s recollection, but partly
my occupations and the state of my health, as well
as my own insignificance, made me reluctant to
do so. I missed Y.R.H. by one night only in
Prague; for when proceeding to pay my respects
to you in the morning, I found you had set off the
very night before. In Töplitz I heard a military
band four times a day,–the only musical report
which I can give you. I was a great deal with
Goethe.^[1] My physician Staudenheim, however,
ordered me off to Carlsbad,^[2] and from thence here,
and probably I shall have to go back to Töplitz
from this. What flights! And yet it seems very
doubtful whether any improvement in my condition
has hitherto taken place. I receive the best accounts
of Y.R.H.’s health, and also of the persistent
devotion you exhibit towards the musical
Muse. Y.R.H. has no doubt heard of a concert
that I gave for the benefit of the sufferers by fire
in the Stadt Baden,^[3] assisted by Herr Polledro.^[4]
The receipts were nearly 1000 florins W.W., and
if I had not been restricted in my arrangements we
might easily have taken 2000 florins. It was literally
a poor concert for the poor. I could only
find at the publisher’s here some of my earlier
sonatas with violin accompaniments, and as Polledro
had set his heart on these, I was obliged to
content myself with playing an old Sonata.^[5] The
entire concert consisted of a trio, in which Polledro
played, my Sonata with violin, then again
something was played by Polledro, and, lastly, I
extemporized. Meanwhile I do sincerely rejoice
that by this means something has fallen to the share
of the poor Badeners. Pray deign to accept my
best wishes for your welfare, and my entreaty that
you will sometimes think of me.

[K.]

93.
TO BETTINA VON ARNIM.

Töplitz, August 15, 1812.

MY MOST DEAR KIND FRIEND,–

Kings and princes can indeed create professors
and privy-councillors, and confer titles and decorations,
but they cannot make great men,–spirits
that soar above the base turmoil of this world.
There their powers fail, and this it is that forces
them to respect us.^[1] When two persons like
Goethe and myself meet, these grandees cannot
fail to perceive what such as we consider great.
Yesterday, on our way home, we met the whole
Imperial family; we saw them coming some way
off, when Goethe withdrew his arm from mine, in
order to stand aside; and, say what I would, I could
not prevail on him to make another step in advance.
I pressed down my hat more firmly on my head,
buttoned up my great-coat, and, crossing my arms
behind me, I made my way through the thickest
portion of the crowd. Princes and courtiers formed
a lane for me; Archduke Rudolph took off his hat,
and the Empress bowed to me first. These great
ones of the earth know me. To my infinite amusement,
I saw the procession defile past Goethe, who
stood aside with his hat off, bowing profoundly.
I afterwards took him sharply to task for this; I
gave him no quarter, and upbraided him with all
his sins, especially towards you, my dear friend, as
we had just been speaking of you. Heavens! if I
could have lived with you as he did, believe me I
should have produced far greater things. A musician
is also a poet, he too can feel himself transported
into a brighter world by a pair of fine eyes,
where loftier spirits sport with him and impose
heavy tasks on him. What thoughts rushed into
my mind when I first saw you in the Observatory
during a refreshing May shower, so fertilizing to
me also!^[2] The most beautiful themes stole from
your eyes into my heart, which shall yet enchant
the world when Beethoven no longer directs. If
God vouchsafes to grant me a few more years of
life, I must then see you once more, my dear, most
dear friend, for the voice within, to which I always
listen, demands this. Spirits may love one another,
and I shall ever woo yours. Your approval is
dearer to me than all else in the world. I told
Goethe my sentiments as to the influence praise
has over men like us, and that we desire our equals
to listen to us with their understanding. Emotion
suits women only; (forgive me!) music ought to
strike fire from the soul of a man. Ah! my dear
girl, how long have our feelings been identical on
all points!!! The sole real good is some bright
kindly spirit to sympathize with us, whom we
thoroughly comprehend, and from whom we need
not hide our thoughts. He who wishes to appear
something, must in reality be something. The world
must acknowledge us, it is not always unjust; but
for this I care not, having a higher purpose in view.
I hope to get a letter from you in Vienna; write
to me soon and fully, for a week hence I shall be
there. The Court leaves this to-morrow, and to-day
they have another performance. The Empress
has studied her part thoroughly. The Emperor
and the Duke wished me to play some of my own
music, but I refused, for they are both infatuated
with Chinese porcelain. A little indulgence is required,
for reason seems to have lost its empire;
but I do not choose to minister to such perverse
folly–I will not be a party to such absurd doings
to please those princes who are constantly guilty
of eccentricities of this sort. Adieu! adieu! dear
one; your letter lay all night next my heart, and
cheered me. Musicians permit themselves great
license. Heavens! how I love you! Your most
faithful friend and deaf brother,

BEETHOVEN.

94.
TO PRINCESS KINSKY,–PRAGUE

Vienna, Dec. 30, 1812.

YOUR HIGHNESS,–

The dreadful event which deprived you of your
husband, Prince von Kinsky, snatching him from
his father-land and from all those who love him,^[1] as
well as from many whom he generously supported,
filling every heart capable of appreciating goodness
and greatness with the deepest sorrow, affected me
also in the most profound and painful degree. The
stern duty of self-interest compels me to lay before
your Highness a humble petition, the reasonable
purport of which may, I hope, plead my excuse for
intruding on your Highness at a time when so
many affairs of importance claim your attention.
Permit me to state the matter to your Highness.

Y.H. is no doubt aware that when I received a
summons to Westphalia in the year 1809, his Highness
Prince von Kinsky, your late husband, together
with his I.H. Archduke Rudolph and H.H. the
Prince von Lobkowitz, offered to settle on me for
life an annual income of 4000 gulden, provided I
declined the proposal in question, and determined to
remain in Austria. Although this sum was by no
means in proportion to that secured to me in Westphalia,
still my predilection for Austria, as well as
my sense of this most generous proposal, induced me
to accept it without hesitation. The share contributed
by H.H. Prince Kinsky consisted of 1800
florins, which I have received by quarterly instalments
since 1809 from the Prince’s privy purse.
Though subsequent occurrences partially diminished
this sum, I rested satisfied, till the appearance
of the Finance Patent, reducing bank-notes into
Einlösung Schein. I applied to H.I.H. the
Archduke Rudolph to request that the portion of
the annuity contributed by H.I.H. should in
future be paid in Einlösung Schein. This was at
once granted, and I received a written assurance
to that effect from H.I.H. Prince von Lobkowitz
agreed to the same with regard to his share,–700
florins [see No. 84]. H.H. Prince von Kinsky
being at that time in Prague, I addressed my respectful
petition to him last May, through Herr
Varnhagen von Ense, an officer in the Vogelsang
Regiment, that his Highness’s contribution to my
salary–1800 florins–should be paid like the
rest in Einlösung Schein. Herr von Varnhagen
wrote as follows, and the original of the letter is
still extant:–

“I had yesterday the desired interview with
Prince Kinsky. With the highest praise of Beethoven,
he at once acceded to his demand, and is
prepared to pay up the arrears, and also all future
sums from the date of the Einlösung Schein, in
that currency. The cashier here has received the
necessary instructions, and Beethoven can draw for
the whole sum on his way through Prague, or, if
he prefers it, in Vienna, as soon as the Prince returns
there.

“Prague, June 9, 1812.”

When passing through Prague some weeks
afterwards, I took the opportunity of waiting on
the Prince, and received from him the fullest confirmation
of this promise. H.H. likewise assured
me that he entirely admitted the propriety of my
demand, and considered it quite reasonable. As I
could not remain in Prague till this affair was
finally settled, H.H. was so kind as to make me a
payment of sixty ducats on account, which, according
to H.H.’s calculation, were good for 600 florins
Vienna currency. The arrears were to be paid up
on my return to Vienna, and an order given to the
cashier to pay my salary in future in Einlösung
Schein. Such was H.H.’s pleasure. My illness
increasing in Töplitz, I was obliged to remain there
longer than I originally intended. In the month
of September I therefore addressed to H.H., who
was then in Vienna, through one of my friends
here, Herr Oliva, a written memorial, claiming his
promise, when H.H. graciously repeated to this
friend the assurance he had already given me,
adding that in the course of a few days he would
give the necessary instructions on the subject to his
cashier.

A short time afterwards he left Vienna. When
I arrived there, I inquired from the Prince’s secretary
whether H.H. had given directions about my
salary before leaving Vienna, when, to my surprise,
I was told that H.H. had done nothing in the
matter.

My title to the liquidation of my claim is proved
by the testimony of the Herren von Varnhagen
and Oliva, to whom H.H. spoke on the subject,
reiterating his consent. I feel convinced that the
illustrious heirs and family of this prince will in
the same spirit of benevolence and generosity strive
to fulfil his intentions. I therefore confidently
place in Y.H.’s hands my respectful petition, viz.,
“to pay up the arrears of my salary in Einlösung
Schein, and to instruct your cashier to transmit me
the amount in future, in the same currency.”
Relying on your sense of justice according me a
favorable decision, I remain Y.H.’s

Most obedient servant,
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN.

95.
TO THE ARCHDUKE RUDOLPH.

1813.^[1]

I have been far from well since last Sunday,
but have suffered more in mind than in body. I
beg your forgiveness a thousand times for not
having sooner sent my apologies; each day I had
the strongest inclination to wait on you, but Heaven
knows that in spite of the best will that I always
entertain for the best of masters I was unable to
do so, distressing as it is to me not to have it in my
power to sacrifice all to him for whom I cherish
the highest esteem, love, and veneration. Y.R.H.
would perhaps act wisely in making a pause at
present with the Lobkowitz concerts; even the
most brilliant talent may lose its effect by too great
familiarity.

[K.]

96.
TO THE ARCHDUKE RUDOLPH.

1813.^[1]

At early dawn to-morrow the copyist shall begin
the last movement. As I am in the mean time
writing several other works, I did not hurry myself
much with this last movement merely for the sake
of punctuality, especially as I must write this more
deliberately, with a view to Rode’s^[2] playing; we
like quick, full-toned passages in our Finales, which
do not suit R., and this rather cramps me. At all
events, all is sure to go well next Tuesday. I very
much doubt whether I shall be able to present myself
at Y.R.H.’s on that evening, in spite of my
zeal in your service; but to make up for this, I
mean to come to you to-morrow forenoon and to-morrow
afternoon, that I may entirely fulfil the
wishes of my illustrious pupil.

[K.]

97.
TO THE ARCHDUKE RUDOLPH.

1813.

I had just gone out yesterday when your gracious
letter reached me. As for my health, it is
pretty much the same, particularly as moral causes
affect it, which do not seem likely to be removed;
particularly as I can have recourse to no one but
myself for aid, and can find help in my own head
alone; and more particularly still, because in these
days neither words, nor honor, nor written pledges,
seem binding on any one. As for my occupations,
I have come to an end with some of them, and,
even without your gracious invitation, I intended
to appear at the usual hour to-day. With regard
to Rode [see No. 96], I beg Y.R.H. to be so
good as to let me have the part by the bearer of
this, and I will send it to him at once, with a polite
note from me. He certainly will not take amiss
my sending him the part. Oh! certainly not!
Would to Heaven that I were obliged to ask his forgiveness
on this account! for in that case things
would really be in a better position. Is it your pleasure
that I should come to you this evening at five
o’clock as usual, or does Y.R.H. desire another
hour? I shall endeavor to arrange accordingly, and
punctually to fulfil your wishes.

[K.]

98.
TO PRINCESS KINSKY.

Vienna, Feb. 12, 1813.

YOUR HIGHNESS!–

You were so gracious as to declare with regard
to the salary settled on me by your deceased husband,
that you saw the propriety of my receiving
it in Vienna currency, but that the authority of the
court of law which has assumed the guardianship
of the estate must first be obtained. Under the
conviction that the authorities who represent their
princely wards could not fail to be influenced by
the same motives that actuated the late Prince in
his conduct towards me, I think I am justified in
expecting the ratification of my claim from the
aforesaid court, as I can prove, by the testimony of
well-known, respectable, and upright men, the promise
and intentions of H.H. in my behalf, which
cannot fail to be binding on his heirs and children.
If, therefore, the proofs submitted should even be
found deficient in legal formality, I cannot doubt
that this want will be supplied by the noble mode
of thinking of this illustrious house, and by their
own inclination to generous actions.

Possibly another question may at present arise
from the condition of the inheritance, which is no
doubt heavily burdened, both owing to the melancholy
and sudden death of the late Prince, and by
the state of the times, which renders it equally
just and indispensable to husband carefully all possible
resources. On this account it is far from my
wish to claim more than is absolutely necessary for
my own livelihood, and grounded on the contract
itself,–the legality of such a claim on the heirs of
the late Prince not being in any way disputed.

I beg, then, that Y.H. will be pleased to direct
the arrears of my salary, due since the 1st September,
1811, calculated in Vienna currency, in accordance
with the scale of the contract, making in
W.W. 1088 florins 42 kreuzers, to be paid, and in
the interim, the question whether this salary ought
to be paid in Vienna currency can be deferred until
the affairs are settled, when the subject is again
brought before the trustees, and my claims admitted
to be just by their consent and authority. The
late Prince having given me sixty ducats merely
on account of my salary, which was to be paid by
agreement in Vienna currency, and as this agreement
(as every intelligent man will inform Y.H.)
must be accepted to its full extent, or at all events
not cause me loss, it follows as a matter of course
that Y.H. will not object to my considering the
sixty ducats as only an instalment of the arrears
due to me beyond the usual scale of payment,
agreed to be paid in Vienna currency, so that the
amount must not be deducted from the sum still
due to me.

I feel sure that Y.H.’s noble feelings will do justice
to the equity of my proposal, and my wish to
enter into every detail of this affair, so far as circumstances
permit, and also my readiness to postpone
my claims to suit your convenience. The
same elevated sentiments which prompted you to
fulfil the engagement entered into by the late
Prince, will also make Y.H. apprehend the absolute
necessity entailed on me by my position again
to solicit immediate payment of the arrears of my
salary, which are indispensable for my maintenance.

Anxiously hoping for a favorable answer to my
petition, I have the honor to remain, with profound
respect,

Y.R.H.’s obedient servant,
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN.

99.
TO PRINCESS KINSKY.

HIGHLY HONORED PRINCESS!–

As the Prince’s counsel declared that my claim
could not be heard till the choice of a guardian had
been made, and as I now hear that Y.H. has been
graciously pleased yourself to assume that office, but
decline receiving any one, I present my humble
petition in writing, requesting at the same time
your early consideration; for you can easily understand
that, relying on a thing as a certainty, it is
painful to be so long deprived of it, especially as I
am obliged entirely to support an unfortunate sickly
brother and his whole family,^[1] which (not computing
my own wants) has entirely exhausted my resources,
having expected to provide for myself by
the payment of my salary. You may perceive the
justice of my claims from the fact of my faithfully
naming the receipt of the sixty ducats, advanced to
me by the late Prince in Prague, the Prince’s counsel
himself declaring that I might have said nothing
about this sum, the late Prince not having mentioned
it either to him or to his cashier.

Forgive my being obliged to intrude this affair
on you, but necessity compels me to do so. Some
days hence I shall take the liberty of making inquiries
on the subject from the Prince’s counsel, or
from any one Y.H. may appoint.

I remain, most esteemed and illustrious Princess,

Your devoted servant,
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN.

100.
TO ZMESKALL.

DEAR Z.,–

Forward the accompanying letter to-day without
fail to Brunswick, that it may arrive as soon and as
safely as possible. Excuse the trouble I give you.
I have been again applied to, to send some of my
works to Gratz, in Styria, for a concert to be given
in aid of the Ursuline convent and its schools: last
year they had very large receipts by this means.
Including this concert, and one I gave in Carlsbad
for the benefit of the sufferers from fire at Baden,
three concerts have been given by me, and through
me, for benevolent purposes in one year; and yet
if I ask a favor, people are as deaf as a post. Your

BEETHOVEN.

I. Letter to Sclowonowitsch (Maître des bureaux
des postes) in Cassel. I can no longer do without
the books of Tiedge and Frau von der Recke, as I
am expected to give some opinion about them.

101.
TO HERR JOSEPH VARENNA,–GRATZ.

MY GOOD SIR,–

Rode was not quite correct in all that he said of
me; my health is not particularly good, and from
no fault of my own,–my present condition being
the most unfortunate of my life. But neither this
nor anything in the world shall prevent me from
assisting, so far as it lies in my power, the innocent
and distressed ladies of your convent by my poor
works. I therefore place at your disposal two new
symphonies, a bass aria with chorus, and several
minor choruses; if you desire again to perform
“Hungaria’s Benefactors,” which you gave last
year, it is also at your service. Among the
choruses you will find a “Dervise Chorus,” a capital
bait for a mixed public.

In my opinion, your best plan would be to select
a day when you could give the “Mount of Olives,”
which has been everywhere performed. This
would occupy one half of the concert, and the other
half might consist of a new symphony, the overtures,
and various choruses, and likewise the above-named
bass aria and chorus; thus the evening
would not be devoid of variety. But you can settle
all this more satisfactorily with the aid of your
own musical authorities. I think I can guess what
you mean about a gratuity for me from a third person.
Were I in the same position as formerly, I
would at once say, “Beethoven never accepts anything
where the benefit of humanity is concerned;”
but owing to my own too great benevolence I am
reduced to a low ebb, the cause of which, however,
does not put me to shame, being combined with
other circumstances for which men devoid of honor
and principle are alone to blame; so I do not hesitate
to say that I would not refuse the contribution
of the rich man to whom you allude.^[1] But there
is no question here of any claim. If, however, the
affair with the third person comes to nothing, pray
rest assured that I shall be equally disposed to confer
the same benefit as last year on my friends the
respected Ursuline ladies, and shall at all times be
ready to succor the poor and needy so long as I
live. And now farewell! Write soon, and I will
zealously strive to make all necessary arrangements.
My best wishes for the convent.

I am, with esteem, your friend,
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN.

102.
TO VARENNA.

MY EXCELLENT V. [VARENNA],–

I received your letter with much pleasure, but
with much displeasure the 100 florins allotted to me
by our poor convent ladies; in the mean time I will
apply part of this sum to pay the copyists–the surplus
and the accounts for copying shall be sent to
these good ladies.

I never accept anything for such a purpose. I
thought that perhaps the third person to whom you
alluded might be the Ex-King of Holland, in which
case I should have had no scruples, under my present
circumstances, in accepting a gratuity from him,
who has no doubt taken enough from the Dutch in
a less legitimate way; but as it is, I must decline
(though in all friendship) any renewal of this subject.

Let me know whether, were I to come myself to
Gratz, I could give a concert, and what the receipts
would probably be; for Vienna, alas! can no longer
continue my place of abode. Perhaps it is now too
late? but any information from you on the point
will be very welcome.

The works are being copied, and you shall have
them as soon as possible. You may do just what
you please with the Oratorio; where it will be of
most use it will best fulfil my intentions.

I am, with esteem, your obedient
BEETHOVEN.

P.S. Say all that is kind from me to the worthy
Ursuline ladies. I rejoice in being able to serve
them.

103.
TO ZMESKALL.

Confounded, invited guest! Domanowetz!–not
musical Count, but gobbling Count! dinner Count!
supper Count! &c., &c. The Quartet is to be tried
over to-day at ten o’clock or half-past, at Lobkowitz’s.^[1]
His Highness, whose wits are generally
astray, is not yet arrived; so pray join us, if you can
escape from your Chancery jailer. Herzog is to see
you to-day. He intends to take the post of my
man-servant; you may agree to give him thirty
florins, with his wife obbligata. Firing, light, and
morning livery found. I must have some one who
knows how to cook, for if my food continues as bad
as it now is, I shall always be ill. I dine at home
to-day, because I get better wine. If you will only
order what you like, I very much wish you to come
to me. You shall have the wine gratis, and of far
better quality than what you get at the scoundrelly
“Swan.”

Your very insignificant
BEETHOVEN.

104.
TO ZMESKALL.

Feb. 25, 1813.

I have been constantly indisposed, dear Zmeskall,
since I last saw you; in the mean time the servant
who lived with you before your present one has applied
for my situation. I do not recollect him, but
he told me he had been with you, and that you had
nothing to say against him, except that he did not
dress your hair as you wished. I gave him earnest-money,
though only a florin. Supposing you have
no other fault to find with the man (and if so I beg
you will candidly mention it), I intend to engage
him, for you know that it is no object with me to
have my hair dressed; it would be more to the purpose
if my finances could be dressed, or re-dressed.
I hope to get an answer from you to day. If there
is no one to open the door to your servant, let him
leave the note in the entrance to the left, and should
he find no one there either, he must give it to the
porter’s wife below stairs. May Heaven prosper
you in your musical undertakings! Your

BEETHOVEN,
Miserabilis.

105.
TO ZMESKALL.

Feb. 28, 1813.

Let us leave things as they are for to-day, dear
Z., till we meet [and so on about the servant].

Farewell! Carefully guard the fortresses of the
realm, which, as you know, are no longer virgins,
and have already received many a shot.

Your friend,
BEETHOVEN.

106.
TO ZMESKALL.

MOST WORTHY COUNSELLOR, OWNER OF MINES AND LORD OF FASTNESSES
IN BURGUNDY AND BUDA!–

Be so good as to let me know how matters stand,
as this afternoon at latest I shall take advantage of
your reply to my question, by giving my servant
warning for this day fortnight. His wages, &c., &c.
[The rest relates to his servant.]

107.
TO ZMESKALL.

April 19, 1813.

MY DEAR ZMESKALL,–

I have been refused the University Hall. I
heard this two days since; but being indisposed
yesterday I could not go to see you, nor can I
to-day either. We have no resource now but the
Kärnthnerthor Theatre, or the one “an der Wien.”
I believe there will only be one concert. If both
these fail, we must then have recourse to the Augarten,
in which case we ought certainly to give two
concerts. Reflect on this, my dear friend, and let
me have your opinion. To-morrow the symphonies
may perhaps be tried over at the Archduke’s if I
am able to go out, of which I will apprise you.

Your friend,
BEETHOVEN.

108.
TO ZMESKALL.

April 23, 1813.

DEAR Z.,–

All will go right, the Archduke being resolved
to take this Prince Fizlypuzly roundly to task.
Let me know if you are to dine at the tavern to-day,
or where? Pray tell me if “Sentivany” is
properly spelt, as I wish to write to him at the same
time about the Chorus. We must also consult together
what day to choose. By the by, be cautious
not to mention the intercession of the Archduke,
for Prince Fizlypuzly is not to be with him till Sunday,
and if that evil-minded creditor had any previous
hint of the affair, he would still try to evade us.

Yours ever,
BEETHOVEN.

109.
TO ZMESKALL.

April 26, 1813.

Lobkowitz will give me a day on the 15th of
May, or after that period, which seems to me scarcely
better than none at all; so I am almost disposed to
give up all idea of a concert. But the Almighty
will no doubt prevent my being utterly ruined.

Yours,
BEETHOVEN.

110.
TO THE ARCHDUKE RUDOLPH.

Baden, May 27, 1813.

I have the honor to inform you of my arrival in
Baden, which is indeed still very empty of human
beings, but with all the greater luxuriance and full
lustre does Nature shine in her enchanting loveliness.
Where I fail, or ever have failed, be graciously
indulgent towards me, for so many trying
occurrences, succeeding each other so closely, have
really almost bewildered me; still I am convinced
that the resplendent beauties of Nature here, and
the charming environs, will gradually restore my
spirits, and a double share of tranquillity be my portion,
as by my stay here I likewise fulfil the wishes
of Y.R.H. Would that my desire soon to hear that
Y.R.H. is fully restored were equally fulfilled!
This is indeed my warmest wish, and how much I
grieve that I cannot at this moment contribute to
your recovery by means of my art! This is reserved
for the goddess Hygeia alone, and I, alas!
am only a poor mortal, who commends himself to
Y.R.H., and sincerely hopes soon to be permitted
to wait on you.

[K.]

111.
TO THE ARCHDUKE RUDOLPH.

Vienna, July 24, 1813.

From day to day I have been expecting to return
to Baden; in the mean time, the discords that detain
me here may possibly be resolved by the end of the
ensuing week. To me a residence in a town during
the summer is misery, and when I also remember
that I am thus prevented waiting on Y.R.H., it is
still more vexatious and annoying. It is, in fact,
the Lobkowitz and Kinsky affairs that keep me here.
Instead of pondering over a number of bars, I am
obliged constantly to reflect on the number of peregrinations
I am forced to make; but for this, I could
scarcely endure to the end. Y.R.H. has no doubt
heard of Lobkowitz’s misfortunes,^[1] which are much
to be regretted; but after all, to be rich is no such
great happiness! It is said that Count Fries alone
paid 1900 gold ducats to Duport, for which he had
the security of the ancient Lobkowitz house. The
details are beyond all belief. I hear that Count Rasumowsky^[2]
intends to go to Baden, and to take his
Quartet with him, which is really very pretty, and
I have no doubt that Y.R.H. will be much pleased
with it. I know no more charming enjoyment in
the country than quartet music. I beg Y.R.H.
will accept my heartfelt wishes for your health, and
also compassionate me for being obliged to pass my
time here under such disagreeable circumstances.
But I will strive to compensate twofold in Baden
for what you have lost.

[K.]

112.
TO THE ARCHDUKE RUDOLPH.

1813.^[1]

I beg to inquire whether, being in some degree
restored, I am to wait on you this evening? I at
the same time take the liberty to make a humble
request. I was in hopes that by this time, at all
events, my melancholy circumstances would have
brightened, but all continues in its old state, so I
must determine on giving two concerts.^[2] I find
that I am compelled to give up my former resolution
never to give any except for benevolent purposes;
as self-maintenance demands that I should
do so. The hall of the University would be the
most advantageous and distinguished for my present
object, and my humble request consists in entreating
Y.R.H. to be so gracious as to send a line to the
present Rector Magnificus of the University, through
Baron Schweiger, which would certainly ensure my
getting the hall. In the hope of a favorable answer,
I remain, &c., &c.

[K.]

113.
TO FREIHERR JOSEF VON SCHWEIGER.

Late in the Autumn of 1813.

MY DEAR FRIEND,–

I have to-day applied (by letter) to my gracious
master to interest himself in procuring the University
Hall for two concerts which I think of giving,
and in fact must give, for all remains as it was.
Always considering you, both in good and evil fortune,
my best friend, I suggested to the Duke that
you should apply in his name for this favor to the
present Rector of the University. Whatever may
be the result, let me know H.R.H.’s decision as
soon as possible, that I may make further efforts to
extricate myself from a position so detrimental to
me and to my art. I am coming this evening to the
Archduke.

Your friend,
BEETHOVEN.
[K.]

114.
TO HERR VON BAUMEISTER.^[1]

DEAR SIR,–

I request you will send me the parts of the Symphony
in A, and likewise my score. His I.H. can
have the MS. again, but I require it at present for
the music in the Augarten to-morrow. I have just
received two tickets, which I send to you, and beg
you will make use of them.

I am, with esteem, yours,
L. V. BEETHOVEN.

115.
TO ZMESKALL.

Oct. 9, 1813.

MY DEAR GOOD Z.,–

Don’t be indignant with me for asking you to
address the enclosed letter properly; the person for
whom it is intended is constantly complaining that
he gets no letters from me. Yesterday I took one
myself to the post-office, when I was asked where
the letter was meant to go. I see, therefore, that
my writing seems to be as little understood as myself.
Thence my request to you. Your

BEETHOVEN.

116.
LETTER OF THANKS.

I esteem it my duty to express my gratitude for
the great zeal shown by all those artists who so
kindly coöperated on the 8th and 12th December
[1813] in the concerts given for the benefit of the
Austrian and Bavarian soldiers wounded at the
battle of Hanau. It was a rare combination of
eminent artists, where all were inspired by the
wish to be of use to their father-land, and to contribute
by the exercise of their talents to the fulfilment
of the undertaking, while, regardless of
all precedence, they gladly accepted subordinate
places.^[1] While an artist like Herr Schuppanzigh
was at the head of the first violins, and by his fiery
and expressive mode of conducting kindled the zeal
of the whole orchestra, Herr Kapellmeister Salieri
did not scruple to give the time to the drums and
cannonades; Herr Spohr and Herr Mayseder, each
worthy from his talents to fill the highest post,
played in the second and third rank. Herr Siboni
and Herr Giuliani also filled subordinate places.
The conducting of the whole was only assigned to
me from the music being my own composition; had
it been that of any one else, I would willingly, like
Herr Hummel, have taken my place at the big
drum, as the only feeling that pervaded all our
hearts was true love for our father-land, and the
wish cheerfully to devote our powers to those who
had sacrificed so much for us. Particular thanks
are due to Herr Maelzel, inasmuch as he first suggested
the idea of this concert, and the most
troublesome part of the enterprise, the requisite
arrangements, management, and regulations, devolved
on him. I more especially thank him for
giving me an opportunity by this concert of fulfilling
a wish I have long cherished, to compose for
such a benevolent object (exclusive of the works
already made over to him) a comprehensive work
more adapted to the present times, to be laid on
the altar of my father-land.^[2] As a notice is to be
published of all those who assisted on this occasion,
the public will be enabled to judge of the noble
self-denial exercised by a mass of the greatest artists,
working together with the same benevolent object
in view.

LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN.

117.
TO THE ARCHDUKE RUDOLPH.^[1]

1814.

I beg you will send me the score of the “Final
Chorus”^[2] for half a day, as the theatrical score is
so badly written.

[K.]

118.
TO THE ARCHDUKE RUDOLPH.

1814.

Having only so recently received the score of
the “Final Chorus,” I must ask you to excuse
your getting it back so late. The best thing H.R.H.
can do is to have it transcribed, for in its present
form the score is of no use. I would have brought
it myself, but I have been laid up with a cold since
last Sunday, which is most severe, and obliges me
to be very careful, being so much indisposed. I
never feel greater satisfaction than when Y.R.H.
derives any pleasure through me. I hope very soon
to be able to wait on you myself, and in the mean
time I pray that you will keep me in remembrance.

[K.]

119.
TO THE ARCHDUKE RUDOLPH.

1814.

The song “Germania” belongs to the whole
world who sympathize with the subject, and to you
beyond all others, just as I myself am wholly yours.
I wish you a good journey to Palermo.

[K.]

120.
TO TREITSCHKE.

March, 1814.

MY DEAR, WORTHY T.,–

I have read with the greatest satisfaction your
amendments of the Opera [“Fidelio” which was
about to be again performed]. It has decided me
once more to rebuild the desolate ruins of an ancient
fortress.

Your friend,
BEETHOVEN.

121.
TO TREITSCHKE.

The affair of the Opera is the most troublesome
in the world, and there is scarcely one part of it
which quite satisfies me now, and that I have not
been obliged to amend by something more satisfactory.
But what a difference between this, and
giving one’s self up to freely flowing thought and
inspiration!

122.
TO TREITSCHKE.

1814.

I request, my dear T., that you will send me
the score of the song [in “Fidelio,” Geld ist eine
schöne Sache], that the interpolated notes may be
transcribed in all the instrumental parts; though I
shall not take it at all amiss if you prefer that
Girowetz or any other person, perhaps Weinmüller
[who sang the part of Rocco], should do so. This
I have nothing to say against, but I will not suffer
my composition to be altered by any one whatever,
be he who he may.

I am, with high consideration,
Your obedient
BEETHOVEN.

123.
TO COUNT MORITZ LICHNOWSKY.^[1]

MY DEAR COUNT,–

If you wish to attend our council [about the alterations
in “Fidelio”], I beg to inform you that
it assembles this afternoon at half-past three o’clock,
in the Spielmann Haus, auf dem Graben, No. 188,
4th Etage, at Herr Weinmüller’s. I shall be very
glad if you have leisure to be present.

124.
TO COUNT MORITZ LICHNOWSKY.^[1]

My dear, victorious, and yet sometimes nonplussed
(?) Count! I hope that you rested well,
most precious and charming of all Counts! Oh!
most beloved and unparalleled Count! most fascinating
and prodigious Count!

(To be repeated at pleasure.)

At what hour shall we call on Walter to-day?
My going or not depends entirely on you. Your

BEETHOVEN.

125.
TO THE ARCHDUKE RUDOLPH.

1814.

I hope you forgive me for not having come to
you. Your displeasure would be totally undeserved,
and I will amply compensate for lost time in a few
days. My Opera of “Fidelio”^[1] is again to be performed,
which gives me a great deal to do; moreover,
though I look well, I am not so in reality.
The arrangements for my second concert^[2] are
partly completed. I must write something new for
Mdlle. Milder.^[3] Meanwhile it is a consolation to
me to hear that Y.R.H. is so much better. I
hope I am not too sanguine in thinking that I shall
soon be able to contribute towards this. I have
taken the liberty to apprise my Lord Falstaff^[4] that
he is ere long to have the honor of appearing before
Y.R.H.

[K.]

126.
TO THE ARCHDUKE RUDOLPH.

Vienna, July 14, 1814.

Whenever I inquire about you I hear nothing
but good news. As for my own insignificant self,
I have been hitherto hopelessly detained in Vienna,
and unable to approach Y.R.H.; I am also thus
deprived of the enjoyment of beautiful Nature, so
dear to me. The directors of the theatre are so
conscientious, that, contrary to their faithful promise,
they have again given my Opera of “Fidelio,”
without thinking of giving me any share in the
receipts. They would have exhibited the same
commendable good faith a second time, had I not
been on the watch like a French custom-house officer
of other days. At last, after a great many
troublesome discussions, it was settled that the
Opera of “Fidelio” should be given on Monday
the 18th of July, for my benefit. These receipts
at this season of the year may more properly be
called deceits; but if a work is in any degree successful
it often becomes a little feast for the author.
To this feast the master invites his illustrious pupil,
and hopes–yes! I hope that Y.R.H. will graciously
consent to come, and thus add lustre to
everything by your presence. It would be a great
boon if Y.R.H. would endeavor to persuade the
other members of the Imperial family to be present
at the representation of my Opera, and I on my
part will not fail to take the proper steps on the
subject which duty commands. Vogl’s illness^[1] enabled
me to satisfy my desire to give the part of
Pizarro to Forti,^[2] his voice being better suited to
it; but owing to this there are daily rehearsals,
which cannot fail to have a favorable effect on the
performance, but which render it impossible for me
to wait upon Y.R.H. before my benefit. Pray
give this letter your favorable consideration, and
think graciously of me.

[K.]

127.
DEPOSITION.

1814.

I voluntarily presented Maelzel gratis with a
“Battle Symphony” for his panharmonica. After
having kept it for some time, he brought me back
the score, which he had already begun to engrave,
saying that he wished it to be harmonized for a full
orchestra. The idea of a battle had already occurred
to me, which, however, could not be performed on
his panharmonica. We agreed to select this and
some more of my works [see No. 116] to be given
at the concert for the benefit of disabled soldiers.
At that very time I became involved in the most
frightful pecuniary difficulties. Forsaken by every
one in Vienna, and in daily expectation of remittances,
&c., Maelzel offered me fifty gold ducats,
which I accepted, saying that I would either repay
them, or allow him to take the work to London,
(provided I did not go there myself with him,)
referring him to an English publisher for payment.

I got back from him the score written for the
panharmonica. The concerts then took place, and
during that time Herr Maelzel’s designs and character
were first fully revealed. Without my consent,
he stated on the bills of the concert that the work
was his property. Indignant at this, I insisted on
his destroying these bills. He then stated that I
had given it to him as a friendly act, because he
was going to London. To this I did not object,
believing that I had reserved the right to state the
conditions on which the work should be his own. I
remember that when the bills were being printed,
I violently opposed them, but the time was too
short, as I was still writing the work. In all the
fire of inspiration, and absorbed in my composition,
I scarcely thought at all on the subject. Immediately
after the first concert in the University Hall,
I was told on all sides, and by people on whom I
could rely, that Maelzel had everywhere given out
he had paid me 400 gold ducats for the Symphony.
I sent what follows to a newspaper, but the
editor would not insert it, as Maelzel stands well
with them all. As soon as the first concert was
over, I repaid Maelzel his fifty ducats, declaring that
having discovered his real character, nothing should
ever induce me to travel with him; justly indignant
that, without consulting me, he had stated in the bills
that all the arrangements for the concert were most
defective. His own despicable want of patriotism
too is proved by the following expressions: “I care
nothing at all about L.; if it is only said in London
that people have paid ten gulden for admission here,
that is all I care about; the wounded are nothing
to me.” Moreover, I told him that he might take
the work to London on certain conditions, which I
would inform him of. He then asserted that it was
a friendly gift, and made use of this phrase in the
newspapers after the second concert, without giving
me the most remote hint on the subject. As Maelzel
is a rude, churlish man, entirely devoid of education
or cultivation, it is easy to conceive the tenor
of his conduct to me during this time, which still
further irritated me. Who could bear to be forced
to bestow a friendly gift on such a man? I was
offered an opportunity to send the work to the
Prince Regent, [afterwards George IV.] It was
therefore quite impossible for me to give away the
work unconditionally.

He then called on a mutual friend to make proposals.
He was told on what day to return for an
answer, but he never appeared, set off on his travels,
and performed the work in Munich. How did he
obtain it? He could not possibly steal it; but Herr
Maelzel had several of the parts for some days in
his house, and he caused the entire work to be harmonized
by some obscure musical journeyman, and
is now hawking it about the world. Herr Maelzel
promised me ear-trumpets. I harmonized the
“Battle Symphony” for his panharmonica from a
wish to keep him to his word. The ear-trumpets
came at last, but were not of the service to me that
I expected. For this slight trouble Herr Maelzel,
after my having arranged the “Battle Symphony”
for a full orchestra, and composed a battle-piece in
addition, declared that I ought to have made over
these works to him as his own exclusive property.
Even allowing that I am in some degree obliged to
him for the ear-trumpets, this is entirely balanced
by his having made at least 500 gulden in Munich
by my mutilated or stolen battle-piece. He has
therefore paid himself in full. He had actually the
audacity to say here that he was in possession of the
battle-piece; in fact he showed it, written out, to
various persons. I did not believe this; and, in
fact, with good reason, as the whole is not by me,
but compiled by some one else. Indeed the credit
he assumes for the work should alone be sufficient
compensation.

The secretary at the War Office made no allusion
whatever to me, and yet every work performed at
both concerts was of my composition.

Herr Maelzel thinks fit to say that he has delayed
his visit to London on account of the battle-piece,
which is a mere subterfuge. He stayed to finish
his patchwork, as the first attempt did not succeed.

BEETHOVEN.

128.
TO HERR J. KAUKA, DOCTOR OF LAWS IN PRAGUE, IN THE
KINGDOM OF BOHEMIA.

The Summer of 1814.

A thousand thanks, my esteemed Kauka. At
last I meet with a legal representative and a man,
who can both write and think without using unmeaning
formulas. You can scarcely imagine how
I long for the end of this affair, as it not only interferes
with my domestic expenditure, but is injurious
to me in various ways. You know yourself that a
sensitive spirit ought not to be fettered by miserable
anxieties, and much that might render my life happy
is thus abstracted from it. Even my inclination and
the duty I assigned myself, to serve suffering humanity
by means of my art, I have been obliged to
limit, and must continue to do so.^[1]

I write nothing about our monarchs and monarchies,
for the newspapers give you every information
on these subjects.^[2] The intellectual realm is
the most precious in my eyes, and far above all
temporal and spiritual monarchies. Write to me,
however, what you wish for yourself from my poor
musical capabilities, that I may, in so far as it lies
in my power, supply something for your own musical
sense and feeling. Do you not require all the
papers connected with the Kinsky case? If so I
will send them to you, as they contain most important
testimony, which, indeed, I believe you read
when with me. Think of me and do not forget
that you represent a disinterested artist in opposition
to a niggardly family. How gladly do men withhold
from the poor artist in one respect what they
pay him in another, and there is no longer a Zeus
with whom an artist can invite himself to feast on
ambrosia. Strive, my dear friend, to accelerate the
tardy steps of justice. Whenever I feel myself
elevated high, and in happy moments revel in my
artistic sphere, circumstances drag me down again,
and none more than these two lawsuits. You too
have your disagreeable moments, though with the
views and capabilities I know you to possess,
especially in your profession, I could scarcely have
believed this; still I must recall your attention to
myself. I have drunk to the dregs a cup of bitter
sorrow, and already earned martyrdom in art
through my beloved artistic disciples and colleagues.
I beg you will think of me every day, and imagine
it to be an entire world, for it is really asking rather
too much of you to think of so humble an individual
as myself.

I am, with the highest esteem and friendship,

Your obedient
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN.

129.
ADDRESS AND APPEAL TO LONDON ARTISTS BY L. VAN BEETHOVEN.

Vienna, July 25, 1814.

Herr Maelzel, now in London, on his way
thither performed my “Battle Symphony” and
“Wellington’s Battle of Vittoria” in Munich, and
no doubt he intends to produce them at London
concerts, as he wished to do in Frankfort. This
induces me to declare that I never in any way made
over or transferred the said works to Herr Maelzel;
that no one possesses a copy of them, and that the
only one verified by me I sent to his Royal Highness
the Prince Regent of England. The performance
of these works, therefore, by Herr Maelzel is
either an imposition on the public, as the above
declaration proves that he does not possess them, or
if he does, he has been guilty of a breach of faith
towards me, inasmuch as he must have got them in
a surreptitious manner.

But even in the latter case the public will still be
deluded, for the works that Herr Maelzel performs
under the titles of “Wellington’s Battle of Vittoria”
and “Battle Symphony” are beyond all doubt spurious
and mutilated, as he never had any portion
of either of these works of mine, except some of the
parts for a few days.

This suspicion becomes a certainty from the testimony
of various artists here, whose names I am
authorized to give if necessary. These gentlemen
state that Herr Maelzel, before he left Vienna,
declared that he was in possession of these works,
and showed various portions, which, however, as I
have already proved, must be counterfeit. The
question whether Herr Maelzel be capable of doing
me such an injury is best solved by the following
fact,–In the public papers he named himself as sole
giver of the concert on behalf of our wounded
soldiers, whereas my works alone were performed
there, and yet he made no allusion whatsoever to
me.

I therefore appeal to the London musicians not
to permit such a grievous wrong to be done to their
fellow-artist by Herr Maelzel’s performance of the
“Battle of Vittoria” and the “Battle Symphony,”
and also to prevent the London public being so
shamefully imposed upon.

130.
TO DR. KAUKA.

Vienna, August 22, 1814

You have shown a feeling for harmony, and you
can resolve a great discord in my life, which causes
me much discomfort, into more pleasing melody, if
you will. I shortly expect to hear something of
what you understand is likely to happen, as I eagerly
anticipate the result of this most unjust affair
with the Kinskys. When the Princess was here,
she seemed to be well disposed towards me; still I
do not know how it will end. In the mean time I
must restrict myself in everything, and await with
entire confidence what is rightfully my own and legally
devolves on me; and though unforeseen occurrences
caused changes in this matter, still two witnesses
recently bore testimony to the wish of the
deceased Prince that my appointed salary in Banco
Zettel should be paid in Einlösung Schein, making
up the original sum, and the Prince himself gave
me sixty gold ducats on account of my claim.

Should the affair turn out badly for me by the
conduct of the Kinsky family, I will publish it in
every newspaper, to their disgrace. If there had
been an heir, and the facts had been told to him in
all their truth, just as I narrated them, I am convinced
that he would at once have adopted the
words and deeds of his predecessor. Has Dr. Wolf
[the previous advocate] shown you the papers, or
shall I make you acquainted with them? As I am
by no means sure that this letter will reach you
safely, I defer sending you the pianoforte arrangement
of my opera “Fidelio,” which is ready to be
dispatched.

I hope, in accordance with your usual friendliness,
soon to hear from you. I am also writing to
Dr. Wolf (who certainly does not treat any one
wolfishly), in order not to arouse his passion, so that
he may have compassion on me, and neither take
my purse nor my life.

I am, with esteem, your true friend,
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN.

131.
TO COUNT MORITZ LICHNOWSKY.

Baden, Sept. 21, 1841.^[1]

MOST ESTEEMED COUNT AND FRIEND,–

I unluckily only got your letter yesterday. A
thousand thanks for your remembrance of me.
Pray express my gratitude also to your charming
Princess Christiane [wife of Prince Carl Lichnowsky].
I had a delightful walk yesterday with
a friend in the Brühl, and in the course of our
friendly chat you were particularly mentioned, and
lo! and behold! on my return I found your kind
letter. I see you are resolved to continue to load
me with benefits.

As I am unwilling you should suppose that a
step I have already taken is prompted by your recent
favors, or by any motive of the sort, I must
tell you that a sonata of mine [Op. 90] is about to
appear, dedicated to you. I wished to give you a
surprise, as this dedication has been long designed
for you, but your letter of yesterday induces me to
name the fact. I required no new motive thus
publicly to testify my sense of your friendship and
kindness. But as for anything approaching to a
gift in return, you would only distress me, by thus
totally misinterpreting my intentions, and I should
at once decidedly refuse such a thing.

I beg to kiss the hand of the Princess for her
kind message and all her goodness to me. Never
have I forgotten what I owe to you all, though an
unfortunate combination of circumstances prevented
my testifying this as I could have wished.

From what you tell me about Lord Castlereagh, I
think the matter in the best possible train. If I
were to give an opinion on the subject, I should
say that Lord Castlereagh ought to hear the work
given here before writing to Wellington. I shall
soon be in Vienna, when we can consult together
about a grand concert. Nothing is to be effected
at Court; I made the application, but–but–

Silentium!!!

Farewell, my esteemed friend; pray continue to
esteem me worthy of your friendship. Yours,

BEETHOVEN.

A thousand compliments to the illustrious Princess.

132.
TO THE ARCHDUKE RUDOLPH.

1814.

I perceive that Y.R.H. wishes to try the effect
of my music even upon horses.^[1] We shall see
whether its influence will cause the riders to throw
some clever summersets. Ha! ha! I can’t help
laughing at Y.R.H. thinking of me on such an
occasion; for which I shall remain so long as I live,
&c., &c., &c. The horse-music that Y.R.H. desires
shall set off to you full gallop.

[K.]

133.
TO THE ARCHDUKE RUDOLPH.

1814.

It is impossible for me to-day to wait on you,
much as I wish it. I am dispatching the work on
Wellington’s victory^[1] to London. Such matters
have their appointed and fixed time, which cannot
be delayed without final loss. To-morrow I hope
to be able to call on Y.R.H.

[K.]

134.
TO THE ARCHDUKE RUDOLPH.

(In a different hand) Dec. 1814.

I really feel that I can never deserve your
goodness towards me. I beg to offer my most respectful
thanks for Y.R.H.’s gracious intervention
in my affairs at Prague. I will punctually attend
to the score of the Cantata.^[1] I trust Y.R.H. will
forgive my not having yet been to see you. After
the concert for the poor, comes one in the theatre,
equally for the benefit of the impresario in angustia,
for they have felt some just shame, and have let
me off with one third and one half of the usual
charges. I have now some fresh work on hand,
and then there is a new opera to be begun,^[2] the
subject of which I am about to decide on. Moreover,
I am again far from well, but a few days
hence I will wait on Y.R.H. If I could be of
any service to Y.R.H., the most eager and anxious
wish of my life would be fulfilled.

[K.]

135.
TO THE ARCHDUKE RUDOLPH.

1814.

My warmest thanks for your present.^[1] I only
regret that you could not participate in the music.
I have now the honor to send you the score of the
Cantata [see No. 134]. Y.R.H. can keep it for
some days, and afterwards I shall take care that it
is copied for you as soon as possible.

I feel still quite exhausted from fatigue and
worry, pleasure and delight!–all combined! I
shall have the honor of waiting on you in the course
of a few days. I hope to hear favorable accounts
of Y.R.H.’s health. How gladly would I sacrifice
many nights, were it in my power to restore
you entirely!

[K.]

136.
TO THE ARCHDUKE RUDOLPH.

1814.^[1]

I see with real pleasure that I may dismiss all
fears for your well-being. As for myself, I hope
(always feeling happy when able to give you any
pleasure) that my health is also rapidly recruiting,
when I intend forthwith to compensate both you
and myself for the pauses that have occurred. As
for Prince Lobkowitz, his pauses with me still continue,
and I fear he will never again come in at
the right place; and in Prague (good heavens!
with regard to Prince Kinsky’s affair) they scarcely
as yet know what a figured bass is, for they sing in
slow, long-drawn choral notes; some of these sustained
through sixteen bars |======|. As all these
discords seem likely to be very slowly resolved, it
is best to bring forward only those which we can
ourselves resolve, and to give up the rest to inevitable
fate. Allow me once more to express my delight
at the recovery of Y.R.H.

[K.]

137.
TO THE ARCHDUKE RUDOLPH.

1814.

As you were so kind as to let me know through
Count Troyer^[1] that you would write a few lines on
my affairs in Prague to the Oberstburggraf Count
Kolowrat, I take the liberty to enclose my letter to
Count K.; I do not believe that it contains anything
to which Y.R.H. will take exception. There
is no chance of my being allowed payment in Einlösung
Schein, for, in spite of all the proofs, the
guardians cannot be persuaded to consent to this;
still it is to be hoped that by the friendly steps we
have meanwhile had recourse to, extra-judicially, a
more favorable result may be obtained,–as, for
instance, the rate of the scale to be higher. If,
however, Y.R.H. will either write a few words
yourself, or cause it to be done in your name, the
affair will certainly be much accelerated, which induces
me earnestly to entreat Y.R.H. to perform
your gracious promise to me. This affair has now
gone on for three years, and is still–undecided.

[K.]

138.
TO THE ARCHDUKE RUDOLPH.

1814.

I have again for a fortnight past been afflicted
with severe headaches, though constantly hoping to
get better, but in vain. Now, however, that the
weather is improved, my physician promises me a
speedy cure. Though as each day I expected to be
the last of my suffering, I did not write to you on
the subject; besides, I thought that Y.R.H. probably
did not require me, as it is so long since Y.R.H.
sent for me. During the festivities in honor of
the Princess of Baden,^[1] and the injury to Y.R.H.’s
finger, I began to work very assiduously, and as
the fruit of this, among others, is a new pianoforte
trio.^[2] Myself very much occupied, I had no idea
that I had incurred the displeasure of Y.R.H.,
though I now begin almost to think this to be the
case. In the mean time I hope soon to be able to
present myself before your tribunal.

[K.]

139.
TO THE ARCHDUKE RUDOLPH.

1814.

I beg you will be so good as to let me have the
Trio in B flat with all the parts, and also both parts
of the violin Sonata in G,^[1] as I must have them
written out for myself with all speed, not being able
to hunt out my own scores among so many others.
I hope that this detestable weather has had no bad
effect on Y.R.H.’s health; I must own that it
rather deranges me. In three or four days at least
I shall have the honor to restore both works to
their proper place.

Do the musical pauses still continue?

[K.]

140.
TO HERR KAUKA.

Vienna, Jan. 11, 1815.

MY GOOD, WORTHY K.,–

I received Baron Pasqualati’s letter to-day, by
which I perceive that you wish me to defer any
fresh measures. In the mean time all the necessary
papers are lodged with Pasqualati; so be so good as
to inform him that he must delay taking any further
steps. To-morrow a council is to be held here, and
you and P. shall learn the result probably to-morrow
evening. Meanwhile I wish you to look through
the paper I sent to the Court through Pasqualati,
and read the appendix carefully. You will then
see that Wolf and others have not given you correct
information.

One thing is certain, that there are sufficient
proofs for any one who wishes to be convinced. How
could it ever occur to me to think of written legal
testimony with such a man as Kinsky, whose integrity
and generosity were everywhere acknowledged?
I remain, with the warmest affection and esteem,

In haste, your friend,
B.

141.
TO HERR KAUKA.

1815.

MY DEAR AND ESTEEMED K.,–

What can I think, or say, or feel? As for W.
[Wolf], it seems to me that he not only showed his
weak points, but gave himself no trouble to conceal
them. It is impossible that he can have drawn up
his statement in accordance with all the actual evidence
he had. The order on the treasury about
the rate of exchange was given by Kinsky previous
to his consent to pay me my salary in Einlösung
Schein, as the documents prove; indeed it is only
necessary to examine the date to show this, so the
first instruction is of importance. The species facti
prove that I was more than six months absent from
Vienna. As I was not anxious to get the money,
I allowed the affair to stand over; so the Prince
thus forgot to recall his former order to the treasury,
but that he neither forgot his promise to me,
nor to Varnhagen [an officer] in my behalf, is
evident by the testimony of Herr von Oliva, to
whom shortly before his departure from hence–and
indeed into another world–he repeated his
promise, making an appointment to see him when
he should return to Vienna, in order to arrange the
matter with the treasury, which of course was
prevented by his untimely death.

The testimony of the officer Varnhagen is accompanied
by a document (he being at present with
the Russian army), in which he states that he is
prepared to take his oath on the affair. The evidence
of Herr Oliva is also to the effect that he is
willing to confirm his evidence by oath before the
Court. As I have sent away the testimony of Col.
Count Bentheim, I am not sure of its tenor, but I
believe the Count also says that he is prepared at
any time to make an affidavit on the matter in
Court, and I am myself ready to swear before the
Court that Prince Kinsky said to me in Prague,
“he thought it only fair to me that my salary
should be paid in Einlösung Schein.” These were
his own words.

He gave me himself sixty gold ducats in Prague,
on account (good for about 600 florins), as, owing
to my state of health, I could remain no longer, and
set off for Töplitz. The Prince’s word was sacred
in my eyes, never having heard anything of him
to induce me either to bring two witnesses with me
or to ask him for any written pledge. I see from
all this that Dr. Wolf has miserably mismanaged
the business, and has not made you sufficiently acquainted
with the papers.

Now as to the step I have just taken. The Archduke
Rudolph asked me some time since whether
the Kinsky affair was yet terminated, having probably
heard something of it. I told him that it
looked very bad, as I knew nothing, absolutely
nothing, of the matter. He offered to write himself,
but desired me to add a memorandum, and
also to make him acquainted with all the papers
connected with the Kinsky case. After having
informed himself on the affair, he wrote to the
Oberstburggraf, and enclosed my letter to him.

The Oberstburggraf answered both the Duke and
myself immediately. In the letter to me he said
“that I was to present a petition to the Provincial
Court of Justice in Prague, along with all the proofs,
whence it would be forwarded to him, and that he
would do his utmost to further my cause.” He also
wrote in the most polite terms to the Archduke;
indeed, he expressly said “that he was thoroughly
cognizant of the late Prince Kinsky’s intentions
with regard to me and this affair, and that I might
present a petition,” &c. The Archduke instantly
sent for me, and desired me to prepare the document
and to show it to him; he also thought that
I ought to solicit payment in Einlösung Schein, as
there was ample proof, if not in strictly legal form,
of the intentions of the Prince, and no one could
doubt that if he had survived he would have adhered
to his promise. If he [the Archduke] were
this day the heir, he would demand no other proofs
than those already furnished. I sent this paper to
Baron Pasqualati, who is kindly to present it himself
to the Court. Not till after the affair had gone
so far did Dr. Adlersburg receive a letter from Dr.
Wolf, in which he mentioned that he had made a
claim for 1500 florins. As we have come so far
as 1500 florins with the Oberstburggraf, we may
possibly get on to 1800 florins. I do not esteem
this any favor, for the late Prince was one of those
who urged me most to refuse a salary of 600 gold
ducats per annum, offered to me from Westphalia;
and he said at the time “that he was resolved I
should have no chance of eating hams in Westphalia.”
Another summons to Naples somewhat
later I equally declined, and I am entitled to demand
a fair compensation for the loss I incurred.
If the salary were to be paid in bank-notes, what
should I get? Not 400 florins in Conventionsgeld!!!
in lieu of such a salary as 600 ducats! There
are ample proofs for those who wish to act justly;
and what does the Einlösung Schein now amount
to??!!! It is even at this moment no equivalent
for what I refused. This affair was pompously
announced in all the newspapers while I was nearly
reduced to beggary. The intentions of the Prince
are evident, and in my opinion the family are bound
to act in accordance with them unless they wish to
be disgraced. Besides, the revenues have rather
increased than diminished by the death of the
Prince; so there is no sufficient ground for curtailing
my salary.

I received your friendly letter yesterday, but
am too weary at this moment to write all that I
feel towards you. I can only commend my case to
your sagacity. It appears that the Oberstburggraf
is the chief person; so what he wrote to the Archduke
must be kept a profound secret, for it might
not be advisable that any one should know of it but
you and Pasqualati. You have sufficient cause on
looking through the papers to show how improperly
Dr. Wolf has conducted the affair, and that another
course of action is necessary. I rely on your
friendship to act as you think best for my interests.

Rest assured of my warmest thanks, and pray
excuse my writing more to-day, for a thing of this
kind is very fatiguing,–more so than the greatest
musical undertaking. My heart has found something
for you to which yours will respond, and this
you shall soon receive.

Do not forget me, poor tormented creature that
I am! and act for me and effect for me all that is
possible.

With high esteem, your true friend,
BEETHOVEN.

142.
TO HERR KAUKA.

Vienna, Jan. 14, 1815.

MY GOOD AND WORTHY K.,–

The long letter I enclose was written when we
were disposed to claim the 1800 florins. Baron
Pasqualati’s last letter, however, again made me
waver, and Dr. Adlersburg advised me to adhere
to the steps already taken; but as Dr. Wolf writes
that he has offered in your name to accept 1500
florins a year, I beg you will at least make every
effort to get that sum. For this purpose I send you
the long letter written before we received Baron
P.’s dissuasive one, as you may discover in it many
reasons for demanding at least the 1500 florins.
The Archduke, too, has written a second time to
the Oberstburggraf, and we may conclude from his
previous reply that he will certainly exert himself,
and that we shall at all events succeed in getting
the 1500 florins.

Farewell! I cannot write another syllable; such
things exhaust me. May your friendship accelerate
this affair!–if it ends badly, then I must leave
Vienna, because I could not possibly live on my
income, for here things have come to such a pass
that everything has risen to the highest price, and
that price must be paid. The last two concerts I
gave cost me 1508 florins, and had it not been for
the Empress’s munificent present I should scarcely
have derived any profit whatever.

Your faithful friend,
BEETHOVEN.

143.^[1]
TO THE HONORABLE MEMBERS OF THE LANDRECHT.

Vienna, 1815.

GENTLEMEN,–

Quite ignorant of law proceedings, and believing
that all claims on an inheritance could not fail to be
liquidated, I sent to my lawyer in Prague [Dr.
Kauka] the contract signed by the Archduke Rudolph,
Prince Lobkowitz, and Prince von Kinsky,
in which these illustrious personages agreed to settle
on me an annual allowance of 4000 florins. My
constant efforts to obtain a settlement of my claim,
and also, as I am bound to admit, my reproaches to
Dr. Kauka for not conducting the affair properly
(his application to the guardians having proved
fruitless), no doubt prompted him to have recourse
to law.

None but those who are fully aware of my esteem
for the deceased Prince can tell how repugnant
it is to my feelings to appear as a complainant
against my benefactor.

Under these circumstances I have recourse to a
shorter path, in the conviction that the guardians
of the Prince’s estate will be disposed to mark their
appreciation of art, and also their desire to fulfil
the engagements of the late Prince. According to
the terms of the contract in question, the Archduke
Rudolph, Prince Lobkowitz, and Prince v. Kinsky
granted me these 4000 florins until I should obtain
a situation of equal value; and further, if by misfortune
or old age I was prevented exercising my
art, these distinguished contracting parties secured
this pension to me for life, while I, in return,
pledged myself not to leave Vienna.

This promise was generous, and equally generous
was its fulfilment, for no difficulty ever occurred,
and I was in the peaceful enjoyment of my pension
till the Imperial Finance Patent appeared. The
consequent alteration in the currency made no difference
in the payments of the Archduke Rudolph, for
I received his share in Einlösung Schein, as I had
previously done in bank-notes, without any reference
to the new scale. The late illustrious Prince v.
Kinsky also at once assured me that his share (1800
florins) should also be paid in Einlösung Schein. As
however, he omitted giving the order to his cashier,
difficulties arose on the subject. Although my circumstances
are not brilliant, I would not have ventured
to bring this claim before the notice of the
guardians of the estate, if respectable, upright men
had not received the same pledge from the late
Prince’s own lips, namely, that he would pay my
past as well as my future claims in Vienna currency,
which is proved by the papers B, C, D, appended
to the pleas. Under these circumstances I leave
the guardians to judge whether, after so implicitly
relying on the promise of the deceased Prince, I
have not cause to complain of my delicacy being
wounded by the objection advanced by the curators
to the witnesses, from their not having been present
together at the time the promise was made, which
is most distressing to my feelings.

In order to extricate myself from this most disagreeable
lawsuit, I take the liberty to give an
assurance to the guardians that I am prepared, both
as to the past and the future, to be satisfied with
the 1800 florins, Vienna currency; and I flatter
myself that these gentlemen will admit that I on
my part make thus no small sacrifice, as it was
solely from my esteem for those illustrious Princes
that I selected Vienna for my settled abode, at a
time when the most advantageous offers were
made to me elsewhere.

I therefore request the Court to submit this proposal
to the guardians of the Kinsky estates for their
opinion, and to be so good as to inform me of the
result.

L. V. BEETHOVEN.

144.
TO BARON VON PASQUALATI.

January, 1815.

MY ESTEEMED FRIEND,–

I beg you will kindly send me by the bearer the
proper form for the Kinsky receipt (but sealed) for
600 florins half-yearly from the month of April. I
intend to send the receipt forthwith to Dr. Kauka
in Prague,^[1] who on a former occasion procured the
money for me so quickly. I will deduct your debt
from this, but if it be possible to get the money here
before the remittance arrives from Prague, I will
bring it at once to you myself.

I remain, with the most profound esteem,

Your sincere friend,
BEETHOVEN

145.
TO HERR KAUKA.

Vienna, Feb. 24, 1815.

MY MUCH ESTEEMED K.,–

I have repeatedly thanked you through Baron
Pasqualati for your friendly exertions on my behalf,
and I now beg to express one thousand thanks myself.
The intervention of the Archduke could not
be very palatable to you, and perhaps has prejudiced
you against me. You had already done all that
was possible when the Archduke interfered. If this
had been the case sooner, and we had not employed
that one-sided, or many-sided, or weak-sided Dr.
Wolf, then, according to the assurances of the
Oberstburggraf himself, the affair might have had a
still more favorable result. I shall therefore ever
and always be grateful to you for your services.
The Court now deduct the sixty ducats I mentioned
of my own accord, and to which the late Prince
never alluded either to his treasurer or any one else.
Where truth could injure me it has been accepted,
so why reject it when it could have benefited me?
How unfair! Baron Pasqualati requires information
from you on various points.

I am again very tired to-day, having been obliged
to discuss many things with poor P.; such matters
exhaust me more than the greatest efforts in composition.
It is a new field, the soil of which I ought
not to be required to till. This painful business has
cost me many tears and much sorrow. The time
draws near when Princess Kinsky must be written
to. Now I must conclude. How rejoiced shall I
be when I can write you the pure effusions of my
heart once more; and this I mean to do as soon as
I am extricated from all these troubles. Pray
accept again my heartfelt thanks for all that you
have done for me, and continue your regard for

Your attached friend,
BEETHOVEN.

146.
TO THE ARCHDUKE RUDOLPH.

1815.

I heard yesterday, and it was indeed confirmed
by meeting Count Troyer, that Y.R.H. is now
here. I therefore send the dedication of the Trio
[in B flat] to Y.R.H., whose name is inscribed on
it; but all my works on which I place any value,
though the name does not appear, are equally designed
for Y.R.H. I trust, however, that you will
not think I have a motive in saying this,–men of
high rank being apt to suspect self-interest in such
expressions,–and I mean on this occasion to risk the
imputation so far as appearances go, by at once asking
a favor of Y.R.H. My well-grounded reasons
for so doing you will no doubt at once perceive, and
graciously vouchsafe to grant my request. I have
been very much indisposed in Baden since the beginning
of last October; indeed, from the 5th of
October I have been entirely confined to my bed,
or to my room, till about a week ago. I had a very
serious inflammatory cold, and am still able to go
out very little, which has also been the cause of my
not writing to Y.R.H. in Kremsir. May all the
blessings that Heaven can shower upon earth attend
you.

[K.]

SECOND PART.

LIFE’S MISSION.
1815 TO 1822.

147.
WRITTEN IN SPOHR’S ALBUM.^[1]

Vienna, March 3, 1815.

Whenever, dear Spohr, you chance to find true
art and true artists, may you kindly remember

Your friend,
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN.

148.
TO HERR KAUKA.

Vienna, April 8, 1815.

It seems scarcely admissible to be on the friendly
terms on which I consider myself with you, and yet
to be on such unfriendly ones that we should live
close to each other and never meet!!!!!^[1] You
write “tout à vous.” Oh! you humbug! said I.
No! no! it is really too bad. I should like to thank
you 9000 times for all your efforts on my behalf,
and to reproach you 20,000 that you came and
went as you did. So all is a delusion! friendship,
kingdom, empire; all is only a vapor which
every breeze wafts into a different form!! Perhaps
I may go to Töplitz, but it is not certain. I might
take advantage of that opportunity to let the people
of Prague hear something–what think you? if
indeed you still think of me at all! As the affair
with Lobkowitz is now also come to a close, we may
write Finis, though it far from fine is for me.

Baron Pasqualati will no doubt soon call on you
again; he also has taken much trouble on my
account. Yes, indeed! it is easy to talk of justice,
but to obtain it from others is no easy matter. In
what way can I be of service to you in my own
art? Say whether you prefer my celebrating the
monologue of a fugitive king, or the perjury of a
usurper–or the true friends, who, though near
neighbors, never saw each other? In the hope of
soon hearing from you–for being now so far
asunder it is easier to hold intercourse than when
nearer!–I remain, with highest esteem,

Your ever-devoted friend,
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN.

149.
TO HERR KAUKA.

1815.

MY DEAR AND WORTHY K.,–

I have just received from the Syndic Baier in R.
the good news that you told him yourself about
Prince F.K. As for the rest, you shall be perfectly
satisfied.

I take the liberty to ask you again to look after
my interests with the Kinsky family, and I subjoin
the necessary receipt for this purpose [see No. 144].
Perhaps some other way may be found, though it
does not as yet occur to me, by means of which I
need not importune you in future. On the 15th October
[1815] I was attacked by an inflammatory
cold, from the consequences of which I still suffer,
and my art likewise; but it is to be hoped that I shall
now gradually recover, and at all events be able
once more to display the riches of my little realm
of sweet sounds. Yet I am very poor in all else–owing
to the times? to poverty of spirit? or
what???? Farewell! Everything around disposes
us to profound silence; but this shall not be
the case as to the bond of friendship and soul that
unites us. I loudly proclaim myself, now as ever,

Your loving friend and admirer,
BEETHOVEN.

150.
TO HERR KAUKA.

1815.

MY MOST WORTHY FRIEND,–

My second letter follows that of yesterday, May
2d. Pasqualati tells me to-day, after the lapse of
a month and six days, that the house of Ballabene
is too high and mighty to assist me in this matter.
I must therefore appeal to your insignificance (as I
myself do not hesitate to be so mean as to serve
other people). My house-rent amounts to 550
florins, and must be paid out of the sum in question.

As soon as the newly engraved pianoforte pieces
appear, you shall receive copies, and also of the
“Battle,” &c., &c. Forgive me, forgive me, my
generous friend; some other means must be found
to forward this affair with due promptitude.

In haste, your friend and admirer,
BEETHOVEN.

151.
TO MR. SALOMON,–LONDON.^[1]

Vienna, June 1, 1815.

MY GOOD FELLOW-COUNTRYMAN,–

I always hoped to meet you one day in London,
but many obstacles have intervened to prevent the
fulfilment of this wish, and as there seems now no
chance of such a thing, I hope you will not refuse
a request of mine, which is that you will be so obliging
as to apply to some London publisher, and offer
him the following works of mine. Grand Trio for
piano, violin, and violoncello [Op. 97], 80 ducats.
Pianoforte Sonata, with violin accompaniment [Op.
96], 60 ducats. Grand Symphony in A (one of
my very best); a short Symphony in F [the 8th];
Quartet for two violins, viola, and violoncello in F
minor [Op. 95]; Grand Opera in score, 30 ducats.
Cantata with Choruses and Solos [“The Glorious
Moment”], 30 ducats. Score of the “Battle of
Vittoria” and “Wellington’s Victory,” 80 ducats;
also the pianoforte arrangement of the same, if not
already published, which, I am told here, is the case.
I have named the prices of some of these works, on
a scale which I hold to be suitable for England, but
I leave it to you to say what sum should be asked
both for these and the others. I hear, indeed, that
Cramer [John, whose pianoforte-playing was highly
estimated by Beethoven] is also a publisher, but my
scholar Ries lately wrote to me that Cramer not
long since publicly expressed his disapproval of my
works: I trust from no motive but that of being of
service to art, and if so I have no right to object to
his doing this. If, however, Cramer should wish to
possess any of my pernicious works, I shall be as
well satisfied with him as with any other publisher;
but I reserve the right to give these works to be
published here, so that they may appear at the same
moment in London and Vienna.

Perhaps you may also be able to point out to me
in what way I can recover from the Prince Regent
[afterwards George IV.] the expenses of transcribing
the “Battle Symphony” on Wellington’s victory
at Vittoria, to be dedicated to him, for I have
long ago given up all hope of receiving anything
from that quarter. I have not even been deemed
worthy of an answer, whether I am to be authorized
to dedicate the work to the Prince Regent; and
when at last I propose to publish it here, I am informed
that it has already appeared in London.
What a fatality for an author!!! While the
English and German papers are filled with accounts
of the success of the work, as performed at Drury
Lane, and that theatre drawing great receipts from
it, the author has not one friendly line to show, not
even payment for the cost of copying the work, and
is thus deprived of all profit.^[2] For if it be true that
the pianoforte arrangement is soon to be published
by a German publisher, copied from the London
one, then I lose both my fame and my honorarium.
The well-known generosity of your character leads
me to hope that you will take some interest in the
matter, and actively exert yourself on my behalf.

The inferior paper-money of this country is now
reduced to one fifth of its value, and I am paid according
to this scale. After many struggles and
considerable loss, I at length succeeded in obtaining
the full value; but at this moment the old paper-money
has again risen far beyond the fifth part, so
that it is evident my salary becomes for the second
time almost nil, and there is no hope of any compensation.
My whole income is derived from my
works. If I could rely on a good sale in England,
it would doubtless be very beneficial to me. Pray
be assured of my boundless gratitude. I hope soon,
very soon, to hear from you.

I am, with esteem, your sincere friend,
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN.

152.
TO THE ARCHDUKE RUDOLPH.

1815.

Pray forgive my asking Y.R.H. to send me the
two Sonatas with violin obbligato^[1] which I caused
to be transcribed for Y.R.H. I require them only
for a few days, when I will immediately return
them.

[K.]

153.
TO THE ARCHDUKE RUDOLPH.

1815.

I beg you will kindly send me the Sonata in E
minor,^[1] as I wish to correct it. On Monday I shall
inquire for Y.R.H. in person. Recent occurrences^[2]
render it indispensable to complete many works of
mine about to be engraved as quickly as possible;
besides, my health is only partially restored. I earnestly
entreat Y.R.H. to desire some one to write
me a few lines as to the state of your own health.
I trust I shall hear a better–nay, the best report
of it.

[K.]

154.
TO THE ARCHDUKE RUDOLPH.

1815.

You must almost think my illness a mere fiction,
but that is assuredly not the case. I am obliged
always to come home early in the evening. The
first time that Y.R.H. was graciously pleased to
send for me, I came home immediately afterwards,
but feeling much better since then, I made an attempt
the evening before last to stay out a little
later. If Y.R.H. does not countermand me, I intend
to have the honor of waiting on you this evening
at five o’clock. I will bring the new Sonata
with me, merely for to-day, for it is so soon to be
engraved that it is not worth while to have it written
out.

[K.]

155.
TO THE ARCHDUKE RUDOLPH.

1815.

I intended to have given you this letter myself,
but my personal attendance might possibly be an
intrusion; so I take the liberty once more to urge
on Y.R.H. the request it contains. I should also
be glad if Y.R.H. would send me back my last
MS. Sonata, for as I must publish it, it would be
labor lost to have it transcribed, and I shall soon
have the pleasure of presenting it to you engraved.
I will call again in a few days. I trust these joyous
times may have a happy influence on your precious
health.

[K.]

156.
TO THE ARCHDUKE RUDOLPH.

Vienna, July 23, 1815.

When you were recently in town, the enclosed
Chorus^[1] occurred to me. I hurried home to write
it down, but was detained longer in doing so than
I at first expected, and thus, to my great sorrow, I
missed Y.R.H. The bad custom I have followed
from childhood, instantly to write down my first
thoughts, otherwise they not unfrequently go astray,
has been an injury to me on this occasion. I therefore
send Y.R.H. my impeachment and my justification,
and trust I may find grace in your eyes.
I hope soon to present myself before Y.R.H.,
and to inquire after a health so precious to us all.

[K.]

157.
TO THE ARCHDUKE RUDOLPH.

1815.

It is neither presumption, nor the pretension of
advocating any one’s cause, still less from the wish
of arrogating to myself the enjoyment of any especial
favor with Y.R.H., that induces me to make
a suggestion which is in itself very simple. Old
Kraft^[1] was with me yesterday; he wished to know
if it were possible for him to be lodged in your palace,
in return for which he would be at Y.R.H.’s
service as often as you please it. He has lived for
twenty years in the house of Prince Lobkowitz, and
during a great part of that time he received no salary;
he is now obliged to vacate his rooms without
receiving any compensation whatever. The position
of the poor deserving old man is hard, and I
should have considered myself equally hard, had I
not ventured to lay his case before you. Count
Troyer will request an answer from Y.R.H. As
the object in view is to brighten the lot of a fellow-creature,
pray forgive your, &c., &c.

[K.]

158.
WRITTEN IN ENGLISH TO MR. BIRCHALL, MUSIC PUBLISHER,
LONDON.

Mr. Beethoven send word to Mr. Birchall that
it is severall days past that he has sent for London
Wellington’s Battel Sinphonie and that Mr.
B[irchall] may send for it at Thomas Coutts. Mr.
Beethoven wish Mr. B. would make ingrave the
sayd Sinphonie so soon as possible and send him
word in time the day it will be published that he
may prevend in time the Publisher in Vienna.

In regard the 3. Sonata which Mr. Birchall receive
afterwerths there is not wanted such a g’t
hurry and Mr. B. will take the liberty to fixe the
day when the are to be published.

Mr. B[irchall] sayd that Mr. Salomon has a
good many tings to say concerning the Synphonie
in G [? A].

Mr. B[eethoven] wish for a answer so soon as
possible concerning the days of the publication.

159.
TO ZMESKALL.

October 16, 1815.

I only wish to let you know that I am here, and
not elsewhere, and wish in return to hear if you are
elsewhere or here. I should be glad to speak to you
for a few minutes when I know that you are at
home and alone. Farewell–but not too well–sublime
Commandant Pacha of various mouldering
fortresses!!!

In haste, your friend,
BEETHOVEN.

160.
TO THE ARCHDUKE RUDOLPH.

Nov. 16, 1815.

Since yesterday afternoon I have been lying in
a state of exhaustion, owing to my great distress of
mind caused by the sudden death of my unhappy
brother. It was impossible for me to send an answer
to Y.R.H. yesterday, and I trust you will
graciously receive my present explanation. I expect,
however, certainly to wait on Y.R.H. to-morrow.

[K.]

161.
TO THE MESSRS. BIRCHALL,–LONDON.

Vienna, Nov. 22, 1815.

You will herewith receive the pianoforte arrangement
of the Symphony in A. “Wellington’s
Battle Symphony,” and “Victory at Vittoria”
were sent a month since, through Herr Neumann,
to the care of Messrs. Coutts; so you have no doubt
received them long ere this.

In the course of a fortnight you shall have the
Trio and Sonata, when you are requested to pay
into the hands of Messrs. Coutts the sum of 130
gold ducats. I beg you will make no delay in
bringing out these works, and likewise let me know
on what day the “Wellington Symphony” is to
appear, so that I may take my measures here accordingly.
I am, with esteem,

Your obedient
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN.

162.
TO RIES.

Vienna, Wednesday, Nov. 22, 1815.

MY DEAR RIES,–

I hasten to apprise you that I have to-day forwarded
by post the pianoforte arrangement of the
Symphony in A, to the care of Messrs Coutts. As
the Court is absent, few, indeed almost no couriers
go from here; moreover, the post is the safest way.
The Symphony ought to be brought out about
March; the precise day I will fix myself. So
much time has already been lost on this occasion
that I could not give an earlier notice of the period
of publication. The Trio in [??] and the violin
Sonata may be allowed more time, and both will be
in London a few weeks hence. I earnestly entreat
you, dear Ries, to take charge of these matters, and
also to see that I get the money; I require it, and
it costs me a good deal before all is sent off.

I have lost 600 florins of my yearly salary; at
the time of the bank-notes there was no loss, but
then came the Einlösungsscheine [reduced paper-money],
which deprives me of these 600 florins,
after entailing on me several years of annoyance,
and now the total loss of my salary. We are at
present arrived at a point when the Einlösungsscheine
are even lower than the bank-notes ever were.
I pay 1000 florins for house-rent: you may thus
conceive all the misery caused by paper-money.

My poor unhappy brother [Carl v. Beethoven, a
cashier in Vienna] is just dead [Nov. 15th, 1815];
he had a bad wife. For some years past he has
been suffering from consumption, and from my wish
to make his life less irksome I may compute what
I gave him at 10,000 florins (Wiener Währung).
This indeed does not seem much to an Englishman,
but it is a great deal for a poor German, or rather
Austrian. The unhappy man was latterly much
changed, and I must say I lament him from my
heart, though I rejoice to think I left nothing undone
that could contribute to his comfort.

Tell Mr. Birchall that he is to repay the postage
of my letters to you and Mr. Salomon, and also
yours to me; he may deduct this from the sum he
owes me; I am anxious that those who work for
me should lose as little as possible by it. “Wellington’s
Victory at Vittoria”^[1] must have arrived
long ago through the Messrs. Coutts. Mr. Birchall
need not send payment till he is in possession
of all the works; only do not delay letting me know
when the day is fixed for the publication of the
pianoforte arrangement. For to-day, I only further
earnestly recommend my affairs to your care; I
shall be equally at your service at any time. Farewell,
dear Ries.

Your friend,
BEETHOVEN.

163.
TO ZMESKALL.

Jan. 1816.

MY GOOD ZMESKALL,–

I was shocked to discover to-day that I had
omitted replying to a proposal from the “Society
of Friends to Music in the Austrian States” to
write an Oratorio for them.

The death of my brother two months ago, which,
owing to the guardianship of my nephew having
devolved on me, has involved me in all sorts of annoyances
and perplexities, has caused this delay in
my answer. In the mean time, the poem of Herr
van Seyfried is already begun, and I purpose
shortly to set it to music. I need not tell you how
very flattering I consider such a commission, for
how could I think otherwise? and I shall endeavor
to acquit myself as honorably as my poor talents
will admit of.

With regard to our artistic resources, when the
time for the performance arrives I shall certainly
take into consideration those usually at our disposal,
without, however, strictly limiting myself to them.
I hope I have made myself clearly understood on
this point. As I am urged to say what gratuity I
require in return, I beg to know whether the Society
will consider 400 gold ducats a proper remuneration
for such a work? I once more entreat
the forgiveness of the Society for the delay in my
answer, but I am in some degree relieved by knowing
that, at all events, you, my dear friend, have
already verbally apprised the Society of my readiness
to write a work of the kind.^[1]

Ever, my worthy Z., your
BEETHOVEN.

164.
TO MDLLE. MILDER-HAUPTMANN.^[1]

Vienna, Jan. 6, 1816.

MY HIGHLY VALUED MDLLE. MILDER, MY DEAR FRIEND,–

I have too long delayed writing to you. How
gladly would I personally participate in the enthusiasm
you excite at Berlin in “Fidelio!” A thousand
thanks on my part for having so faithfully adhered
to my “Fidelio.” If you will ask Baron de
la Motte-Fouqué, in my name, to discover a good
subject for an opera, and one suitable likewise to
yourself, you will do a real service both to me and
to the German stage; it is also my wish to write it
expressly for the Berlin Theatre, as no new opera
can ever succeed in being properly given here under
this very penurious direction. Answer me
soon, very soon–quickly, very quickly–as
quickly as possible–as quick as lightning–and
say whether such a thing is practicable. Herr
Kapellmeister B. praised you up to the skies to me,
and he is right; well may he esteem himself happy
who has the privilege of enjoying your muse, your
genius, and all your splendid endowments and talents;–it
is thus I feel. Be this as it may, those
around can only call themselves your fellow-creatures
[Nebenmann], whereas I alone have a right
to claim the honored name of captain [Hauptmann].

In my secret heart, your true friend and admirer,
BEETHOVEN.

My poor unfortunate brother is dead, which has
been the cause of my long silence. As soon as you
have replied to this letter, I will write myself to
Baron de la Motte-Fouqué. No doubt your influence
in Berlin will easily obtain for me a commission
to write a grand opera (in which you shall be especially
studied) on favorable terms; but do answer
me soon, that I may arrange my other occupations
accordingly.

Away with all other false Hauptmänner! [captains.]

165.
TO RIES

Vienna, Jan. 20, 1816.

DEAR RIES,–

The Symphony is to be dedicated to the Empress
of Russia. The pianoforte score of the Symphony
in A must not, however, appear before June, for
the publisher here cannot be ready sooner. Pray,
dear Ries, inform Mr. Birchall of this at once.
The Sonata with violin accompaniment, which will
be sent from here by the next post, can likewise
be published in London in May, but the Trio at a
later date (it follows by the next post); I will myself
name the time for its publication. And now,
dear Ries, pray receive my heartfelt thanks for
your kindness, and especially for the corrections of
the proofs. May Heaven bless you more and more,
and promote your progress, in which I take the
most sincere interest. My kind regards to your
wife. Now as ever,

Your sincere friend,
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN.

166.
TO MR. BIRCHALL,–LONDON.

Vienne, le 3. Febr. den 1816

VOUS RECEUES CI JOINT–

Le grand Trio p. Pf. V. et Vllo. Sonata pour
Pf. et Violin–qui form le reste de ce qu’il vous a
plus à me comettre. Je vous prie de vouloir payer
la some de 130 Ducats d’Holland come le poste
lettre a Mr. Th. Cutts et Co. de votre ville e de
me croire avec toute l’estime et consideration

Votre tres humble Serviteur,
LOUIS VAN BEETHOVEN.

167.
TO CZERNY.^[1]

MY DEAR CZERNY,–

Pray give the enclosed to your parents for the
dinners the boy had recently at your house; I positively
will not accept these gratis. Moreover, I
am very far from wishing that your lessons should
remain without remuneration,–even those already
given must be reckoned up and paid for; only I
beg you to have a little patience for a time, as nothing
can be demanded from the widow, and I had
and still have heavy expenses to defray;–but I
borrow from you for the moment only. The boy is
to be with you to-day, and I shall come later.

Your friend,
BEETHOVEN.

168.
TO CZERNY.^[1]

Vienna, Feb. 12, 1816.

DEAR CZERNY,–

I cannot see you to-day, but I will call to-morrow
being desirous to talk to you. I spoke out so
bluntly yesterday that I much regretted it afterwards.
But you must forgive this on the part of
an author, who would have preferred hearing his
work as he wrote it, however charmingly you
played it. I will, however, amply atone for this by
the violoncello Sonata.^[2]

Rest assured that I cherish the greatest regard
for you as an artist, and I shall always endeavor to
prove this.

Your true friend,
BEETHOVEN.

169.
TO RIES,–LONDON.

Vienna, Feb. 28, 1816.

… For some time past I have been far from
well; the loss of my brother affected both my spirits
and my works. Salomon’s death grieves me much,
as he was an excellent man whom I have known
from my childhood. You are his executor by will,
while I am the guardian of my late poor brother’s
child. You can scarcely have had as much vexation
from Salomon’s death as I have had from that
of my brother!–but I have the sweet consolation
of having rescued a poor innocent child from the
hands of an unworthy mother. Farewell, dear
Ries; if I can in any way serve you, look on me as

Your true friend,
BEETHOVEN.

170.
TO GIANNATASIO DEL RIO,–VIENNA.

Feb. 1816.

SIR,–

I have great pleasure in saying that at last I intend
to-morrow to place under your care the dear
pledge intrusted to me. But I must impress on
you not to permit any influence on the mother’s
part to decide when and where she is to see her
son. We can, however, discuss all this more minutely
to-morrow…. You must keep a watchful
eye on your servant, for mine was bribed by her
on one occasion. More as to this verbally, though
it is a subject on which I would fain be silent; but
the future welfare of the youth you are to train
renders this unpleasant communication necessary.
I remain, with esteem,

Your faithful servant and friend,
BEETHOVEN.

171.
TO G. DEL RIO.

1816.

Your estimable lady, Mdme. A.G. [Giannatasio]
is politely requested to let the undersigned know
as soon as possible (that I may not be obliged to
keep it all in my head) how many pairs of stockings,
trousers, shoes, and drawers are required, and
how many yards of kerseymere to make a pair of
black trousers for my tall nephew; and for the
sake of the “Castalian Spring” I beg, without any
further reminders on my part, that I may receive
an answer to this.

As for the Lady Abbess [a nickname for their
only daughter], there shall be a conference held
on Carl’s affair to-night, viz., if things are to continue
as they are.

Your well (and ill) born
BEETHOVEN.

172.
TO G. DEL RIO.

1816.

I heard yesterday evening, unluckily at too late
an hour, that you had something to give me; had
it not been for this, I would have called on you. I
beg, however, that you will send it, as I have no
doubt it is a letter for me from the “Queen of the
Night.”^[1] Although you gave me permission to
fetch Carl twice already, I must ask you to let him
come to me when I send for him at eleven o’clock
to-morrow, as I wish to take him with me to hear
some interesting music. It is also my intention to
make him play to me to-morrow, as it is now some
time since I heard him. I hope you will urge him
to study more closely than usual to-day, that he
may in some degree make up for his holiday. I
embrace you cordially, and remain,

Yours truly,
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN.

173.
TO G. DEL RIO.^[1]

1816.

I send you, dear sir, the cloak, and also a school-book
of my Carl’s, and request you will make out
a list of his clothes and effects, that I may have it
copied for myself, being obliged, as his guardian, to
look carefully after his property. I intend to call
for Carl to-morrow about half-past twelve o’clock,
to take him to a little concert, and wish him to dine
with me afterwards, and shall bring him back myself.
With respect to his mother, I desire that
under the pretext of the boy being so busy, you will
not let her see him; no man on earth can know or
judge of this matter better than myself, and by any
other line of conduct all my well-matured plans for
the welfare of the child might be materially injured.
I will myself discuss with you when the mother is
henceforth to have access to Carl, for I am anxious
on every account to prevent the occurrence of yesterday
ever being repeated. I take all the responsibility
on myself; indeed, so far as I am concerned,
the Court conferred on me full powers, and the
authority at once to counteract anything adverse to
the welfare of the boy. If they could have looked
on her in the light of an estimable mother, they
assuredly would not have excluded her from the
guardianship of her child. Whatever she may
think fit to assert, nothing has been done in a clandestine
manner against her. There was but one
voice in the whole council on the subject. I hope
to have no further trouble in this matter, for the
burden is already heavy enough.

From a conversation I had yesterday with Adlersburg
[his lawyer], it would appear that a long
time must yet elapse before the Court can decide
what really belongs to the child. In addition to
all these anxieties am I also to endure a persecution
such as I have recently experienced, and from
which I thought I was entirely rescued by your Institution?
Farewell!

I am, with esteem, your obedient
L. V. BEETHOVEN.

174.
TO FERDINAND RIES,–LONDON.

Vienna, March 8, 1816.

My answer has been too long delayed; but I
was ill, and had a great press of business. Not a
single farthing is yet come of the ten gold ducats,
and I now almost begin to think that the English
are only liberal when in foreign countries. It is
the same with the Prince Regent, who has not
even sent me the cost of copying my “Battle Symphony,”
nor one verbal or written expression of
thanks. My whole income consists of 3400 florins
in paper-money. I pay 1100 for house-rent, and
900 to my servant and his wife; so you may reckon
for yourself what remains. Besides this, the entire
maintenance of my young nephew devolves on
me. At present he is at school, which costs 1100
florins, and is by no means a good one; so that I
must arrange a proper household and have him
with me. How much money must be made to live
at all here! and yet there seems no end to
it–because!–because!–because!–but you know
well what I mean.

Some commissions from the Philharmonic would
be very acceptable to me, besides, the concert.
Now let me say that my dear scholar Ries must set
to work and dedicate something valuable to me, to
which his master may respond, and repay him in
his own coin. How can I send you my portrait?
My kind regards to your wife. I, alas! have none.
One alone I wished to possess, but never shall I
call her mine!^[1] This, however, has not made me
a woman-hater.

Your true friend,
BEETHOVEN.

175.
TO F. RIES.

Vienna, April 3, 1816.

Neate^[1] is no doubt in London by this time.
He took several of my works with him, and promised
to do the best he could for me.

The Archduke Rudolph [Beethoven’s pupil,
see No. 70] also plays your works with me, my
dear Ries; of these “Il Sogno” especially pleased
us. Farewell! Remember me to your charming
wife, and to any fair English ladies who care to
receive my greetings.

Your true friend,
BEETHOVEN.

176.
POWER OF ATTORNEY.

Vienna, May 2, 1816.

I authorize Herr v. Kauka, Doctor of Laws in
the kingdom of Bohemia, relying on his friendship,
to obtain for me the receipt of 600 florins W.W.,
payable at the treasury of Prince Kinsky, from the
house of Ballabene in Prague, and after having
drawn the money to transmit the same to me as
soon as possible.

Witness my hand and seal.
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN.

177.
TO F. RIES.

Vienna, June 11, 1816.

MY DEAR RIES,–

I regret much to put you to the expense of postage
on my account; gladly as I assist and serve
every one, I am always unwilling myself to have
recourse to others. I have as yet seen nothing of
the ten ducats, whence I draw the inference that in
England, just as with us, there are idle talkers who
prove false to their word. I do not at all blame
you in this matter. I have not heard a syllable
from Neate; so I do wish you would ask him
whether he has disposed of the F minor Concerto.
I am almost ashamed to allude to the other works I
intrusted to him, and equally so of myself, for having
given them to him so confidingly, devoid of all
conditions save those suggested by his own friendship
and zeal for my interests.

A translation has been sent to me of an article
in the “Morning Chronicle” on the performance
of the Symphony. Probably it will be the same as
to this and all the other works Neate took with
him as with the “Battle Symphony;” the only
profit I shall derive will be reading a notice of their
performance in the newspapers.

178.
TO G. DEL RIO.

1816.

MY WORTHY G.,–

I beg you will send Carl to me with the bearer
of this letter; otherwise I shall not be able to see
him all day, which would be contrary to his own
interest, as my influence seems to be required; in
the same view, I beg you will give him a few lines
with a report of his conduct, so that I may enter
at once on any point where improvement is necessary.

I am going to the country to-day, and shall not
return till rather late at night; being always unwilling
to infringe your rules, I beg you will send
some night-things with Carl, so that if we return
too late to bring him to you to-day, I can keep him
all night, and take him back to you myself early
next morning.

In haste, always yours,
L. V. BEETHOVEN.

179.
TO G. DEL RIO.

1816.

I must apologize to you, my good friend, for
Carl having come home at so late an hour. We
were obliged to wait for a person who arrived so
late that it detained us, but I will not soon repeat
this breach of your rules. As to Carl’s mother, I
have now decided that your wish not to see her
again in your house shall be acceded to. This
course is far more safe and judicious for our dear
Carl, experience having taught me that every visit
from his mother leaves a root of bitterness in the
boy’s heart, which may injure, but never can benefit
him. I shall strive to arrange occasional meetings
at my house, which is likely to result in everything
being entirely broken off with her. As we
thoroughly agree on the subject of Carl’s mother,
we can mutually decide on the mode of his education.

Your true friend,
BEETHOVEN.

180.
TO THE ARCHDUKE RUDOLPH.

Vienna, July 11, 1816.

Your kindness towards me induces me to hope
that you will not attribute to any selfish design on
my part the somewhat audacious (though only as to
the surprise) dedication annexed. The work^[1] was
written for Y.R.H., or rather, it owes its existence
to you, and this the world (the musical world)
ought to know. I shall soon have the honor of
waiting on Y.R.H. in Baden. Notwithstanding
all the efforts of my physician, who will not allow
me to leave this, the weakness in my chest is no
better, though my general health is improved. I
hope to hear all that is cheering of your own health,
about which I am always so much interested.

[K.]

181.
WRITTEN IN ENGLISH TO MR. BIRCHALL.

1816.

Received, March, 1816, of Mr. Robert Birchall,
music-seller, 133 New Bond Street, London, the
sum of one hundred and thirty gold Dutch ducats,
value in English currency sixty-five pounds, for all
my copyright and interest, present and future,
vested or contingent, or otherwise within the United
kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland in the four
following compositions or pieces of music composed
or arranged by me, viz.:–

1st. A Grand Battle Sinfonia, descriptive of the
battle and victory at Vittoria, adapted for the
pianoforte and dedicated to his Royal Highness the
Prince Regent–40 ducats.

2d. A Grand Symphony in the key of A, adapted
to the pianoforte and dedicated to–

3d. A Grand Trio for the pianoforte, violin, and
violoncello in the key of B.

4th. A Sonata for the pianoforte, with an accompaniment
for the violin in the key of G, dedicated
to–

And, in consideration of such payment I hereby,
for myself, my executors, and administrators, promise
and engage to execute a proper anignment thereof
to him, his executors and administrators or anignees,
at his or their request and costs, as he or they shall
direct. And I likewise promise and engage as
above, that none of the above shall be published
in any foreign country, before the time and day
fixed and agreed on for such publication between
R. Birchall and myself shall arrive.

L. VAN BEETHOVEN.

182.
WRITTEN IN FRENCH TO MR. BIRCHALL,–LONDON.

Vienne 22. Juilliet, 1816.

MONSIEUR,–

J’ai reçu la déclaration de proprieté de mes
Oeuvres entierement cedé a Vous pour y adjoindre
ma Signature. Je suis tout a fait disposer a seconder
vos voeux si tôt, que cette affaire sera entierement
en ordre, en egard de la petite somme de 10 #
d’or la quelle me vient encore pour le fieux de la
Copieture de poste de lettre etc. comme j’avois
l’honneur de vous expliquier dans une note detaillé
sur ses objectes. Je vous invite donc Monsieur de
bien vouloir me remettre ces petits objects, pour
me mettre dans l’état de pouvoir vous envoyer le
Document susdit. Agrées Monsieur l’assurance
de l’estime la plus parfait avec la quelle j’ai l’honneur
de me dire

LOUIS VAN BEETHOVEN.

183.
TO G. DEL RIO.

July 28, 1816.

MY GOOD FRIEND,–

Various circumstances compel me to take charge
of Carl myself; with this view permit me to enclose
you the amount due at the approaching quarter,
at the expiry of which Carl is to leave you.
Do not, I beg, ascribe this to anything derogatory
either to yourself or to your respected institution,
but to other pressing motives connected with Carl’s
welfare. It is only an experiment, and when it is
actually carried out I shall beg you to fortify me
by your advice, and also to permit Carl sometimes
to visit your institution. I shall always feel the
most sincere gratitude to you, and never can forget
your solicitude, and the kind care of your excellent
wife, which has fully equalled that of the best
of mothers. I would send you at least four times
the sum I now do, if my position admitted of it;
but at all events I shall avail myself at a future and,
I hope, a brighter day, of every opportunity to acknowledge
and to do justice to the foundation you
have laid for the moral and physical good of my
Carl. With regard to the “Queen of the Night,”
our system must continue the same; and as Carl is
about to undergo an operation in your house which
will cause him to feel indisposed, and consequently
make him irritable and susceptible, you must be
more careful than ever to prevent her having access
to him; otherwise she might easily contrive to
revive all those impressions in his mind which we
are so anxious to avoid. What confidence can be
placed in any promise to reform on her part, the impertinent
scrawl I enclose will best prove [in reference,
no doubt, to an enclosed note]. I send it
merely to show you how fully I am justified in the
precautions I have already adopted with regard to
her. On this occasion, however, I did not answer
like a Sarastro, but like a Sultan. I would gladly
spare you the anxiety of the operation on Carl,
but as it must take place in your house, I beg you
will inform me of the outlay caused by the affair,
and the expenses consequent on it, which I will
thankfully repay. Now farewell! Say all that is
kind from me to your dear children and your excellent
wife, to whose continued care I commend
my Carl. I leave Vienna to-morrow at five o’clock
A.M., but shall frequently come in from Baden.

Ever, with sincere esteem, your
L. V. BEETHOVEN.

184.
TO G. DEL RIO.

Mdme. A.G. is requested to order several pairs
of good linen drawers for Carl. I intrust Carl to
her kindness, and entirely rely on her motherly
care.

185.
TO ZMESKALL.

Baden, September 5, 1816.

DEAR Z.,–

I don’t know whether you received a note that I
recently left on the threshold of your door, for the
time was too short to enable me to see you. I
must therefore repeat my request about another
servant, as the conduct of my present one is such
that I cannot possibly keep him.^[1] He was engaged
on the 25th of April, so on the 25th of September
he will have been five months with me, and he received
50 florins on account. The money for his
boots will be reckoned from the third month (in
my service), and from that time at the rate of 40
florins per annum; his livery also from the third
month. From the very first I resolved not to keep
him, but delayed discharging him, as I wished to
get back the value of my florins. In the mean time
if I can procure another, I will let this one leave
my service on the 15th of the month, and also give
him 20 florins for boot money, and 5 florins a
month for livery (both reckoned from the third
month), making altogether 35 florins. I ought
therefore still to receive 15 florins, but these I am
willing to give up; in this way I shall at all events
receive some equivalent for my 50 florins. If you
can find a suitable person, I will give him 2 florins
a day while I am in Baden, and if he knows how
to cook he can use my firewood in the kitchen. (I
have a kitchen, though I do not cook in it.) If
not, I will add a few kreutzers to his wages. As
soon as I am settled in Vienna, he shall have 40
florins a month, and board and livery as usual,
reckoned from the third month in my service, like
other servants. It would be a good thing if he
understood a little tailoring. So now you have my
proposals, and I beg for an answer by the 10th of
this month at the latest, that I may discharge my
present servant on the 2d, with the usual fortnight’s
warning; otherwise I shall be obliged to
keep him for another month, and every moment I
wish to get rid of him. As for the new one, you
know pretty well what I require,–good, steady
conduct, a good character, and not to be of a bloodthirsty
nature, that I may feel my life to be safe, as,
for the sake of various scamps in this world, I
should like to live a little longer. By the 10th,
therefore, I shall expect to hear from you on this
affair. If you don’t run restive, I will soon send
you my treatise on the four violoncello strings, very
profoundly handled; the first chapter devoted exclusively
to entrails in general, the second to catgut
in particular. I need scarcely give you any further
warnings, as you seem to be quite on your guard
against wounds inflicted before certain fortresses.
The most profound peace everywhere prevails!!!
Farewell, my good Zmeskällchen! I am, as ever,
un povero musico and your friend,

BEETHOVEN.

N.B. I shall probably only require my new
servant for some months, as, for the sake of my
Carl, I must shortly engage a housekeeper.

186.
TO HERR KAUKA.

Baden, Sept. 6, 1816.

MY WORTHY K.,–

I send you herewith the receipt, according to
your request, and beg that you will kindly arrange
that I should have the money by the 1st October,
and without any deduction, which has hitherto been
the case; I also particularly beg you will not assign
the money to Baron P. (I will tell you why when
we meet; for the present let this remain between
ourselves.) Send it either direct to myself, or, if
it must come through another person, do not let it
be Baron P. It would be best for the future, as
the house-rent is paid here for the great house belonging
to Kinsky, that my money should be paid
at the same time. This is only my own idea.
The Terzet you heard of will soon be engraved,
which is infinitely preferable to all written music;
you shall therefore receive an engraved copy, and
likewise some more of my unruly offspring. In the
mean time I beg that you will see only what is
truly good in them, and look with an indulgent eye
on the human frailties of these poor innocents.
Besides, I am full of cares, being in reality father
to my late brother’s child; indeed I might have
ushered into the world a second part of the “Flauto
Magico,” having also been brought into contact with
a “Queen of the Night.” I embrace you from my
heart, and hope soon in so far to succeed that you
may owe some thanks to my Muse. My dear,
worthy Kauka, I ever am your truly attached
friend,

BEETHOVEN.

187.
QUERY?

What would be the result were I to leave this,
and indeed the kingdom of Austria altogether?
Would the life-certificate, if signed by the authorities
of a non-Austrian place, still be valid?

A tergo.

I beg you will let me know the postage all my
letters have cost you.

188.
TO G. DEL RIO.

Sunday, September 22, 1816.

Certain things can never be fully expressed. Of
this nature are my feelings, and especially my
gratitude, on hearing the details of the operation on
Carl from you. You will excuse my attempting
even remotely to shape these into words. I feel
certain, however, that you will not decline the
tribute I gladly pay you; but I say no more.
You can easily imagine my anxiety to hear how
my dear son is going on; do not omit to give me
your exact address, that I may write to you direct.
After you left this I wrote to Bernhard [Bernard],
to make inquiries at your house, but have not yet
got an answer; so possibly you may have thought
me a kind of half-reckless barbarian, as no doubt
Herr B. has neglected to call on you, as well as to
write to me. I can have no uneasiness about Carl
when your admirable wife is with him: that is quite
out of the question. You can well understand how
much it grieves me not to be able to take part in
the sufferings of my Carl, and that I at least wish
to hear frequently of his progress. As I have renounced
such an unfeeling, unsympathizing friend
as Herr B. [Bernard], I must have recourse to
your friendship and complaisance on this point also,
and shall hope soon to receive a few lines from you.
I beg to send my best regards and a thousand
thanks to your admirable wife.

In haste, your
BEETHOVEN.

I wish you to express to Smetana [the surgeon]
my esteem and high consideration.

189.
TO G. DEL RIO.

If you do not object, I beg you will allow Carl to
come to me with the bearer of this. I forgot, in
my haste, to say that all the love and goodness
which Mdme. A.G. [Giannatasio] showed my
Carl during his illness are inscribed in the list of
my obligations, and I hope one day to show that
they are ever present in my mind. Perhaps I may
see you to-day with Carl.

In haste, your sincere friend,
L. V. BEETHOVEN.

190.
TO WEGELER.

I take the opportunity through J. Simrock to
remind you of myself. I hope you received the
engraving of me [by Letronne], and likewise the
Bohemian glass. When I next make a pilgrimage
through Bohemia you shall have something more
of the same kind. Farewell! You are a husband
and a father; so am I, but without a wife.
My love to your dear ones–to our dear ones.

Your friend,
L. V. BEETHOVEN.

191.
WRITTEN IN ENGLISH TO MR. BIRCHALL, MUSIC SELLER, LONDON.

Vienna, 1. Oct. 1816.

MY DEAR SIR,–

I have duly received the £5 and thought previously
you would non increase the number of
Englishmen neglecting their word and honor, as I
had the misfortune of meeting with two of this sort.
In replic to the other topics of your favor, I have no
objection to write variations according to your plan,
and I hope you will not find £30 too much, the
Accompaniment will be a Flute or Violin or a Violoncello;
you’ll either decide it when you send me
the approbation of the price, or you’ll leave it to
me. I expect to receive the songs or poetry–the
sooner the better, and you’ll favor me also
with the probable number of Works of Variations
you are inclined to receive of me. The Sonata in
G with the accompan’t of a Violin to his Imperial
Highnesse Archduke Rodolph of Austria–it is
Op’a 96. The Trio in Bb is dedicated to the same
and is Op. 97. The Piano arrangement of the
Symphony in A is dedicated to the Empress of the
Russians–meaning the Wife of the Emp’r Alexander–Op.
98.

Concerning the expences of copying and packing
it is not possible to fix him before hand, they are at
any rate not considerable, and you’ll please to consider
that you have to deal with a man of honor,
who will not charge one 6p. more than he is charged
for himself. Messrs. Fries & Co. will account with
Messrs. Coutts & Co.–The postage may be lessened
as I have been told. I offer you of my
Works the following new ones. A Grand Sonata
for the Pianoforte alone £40. A Trio for the
Piano with accomp’t of Violin and Violoncello for
£50. It is possible that somebody will offer you
other works of mine to purchase, for ex. the score
of the Grand Symphony in A.–With regard to
the arrangement of this Symphony for the Piano I
beg you not to forget that you are not to publish it
until I have appointed the day of its publication
here in Vienna. This cannot be otherwise without
making myself guilty of a dishonorable act–but
the Sonata with the Violin and the Trio in B fl.
may be published without any delay.

With all the new works, which you will have
of me or which I offer you, it rests with you to
name the day of their publication at your own
choice: I entreat you to honor me as soon as possible
with an answer having many ordres for compositions
and that you may not be delayed. My address
or direction is

Monsieur Louis van Beethoven
No. 1055 & 1056 Sailerstette 3d. Stock. Vienna.

You may send your letter, if you please, direct
to your most humble servant

LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN.

192.
TO ZMESKALL.

Oct. 24, 1816.

WELL BORN, AND YET EVIL BORN! (AS WE ALL ARE!)

We are in Baden to-day, and intend to bring the
celebrated naturalist Ribini a collection of dead
leaves. To-morrow we purpose paying you not
only a visit but a visitation.

Your devoted
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN.

193.
TO THE ARCHDUKE RUDOLPH.

November, 1816.^[1]

I have been again much worse, so that I can only
venture to go out a little in the daytime; I am,
however, getting better, and hope now to have the
honor of waiting on Y.R.H. three times a week.
Meanwhile, I have many and great cares in these
terrible times (which surpass anything we have
ever experienced), and which are further augmented
by having become the father since last November
of a poor orphan. All this tends to retard my entire
restoration to health. I wish Y.R.H. all
imaginable good and happiness, and beg you will
graciously receive and not misinterpret

Your, &c., &c.
[K.]

194.
TO FREIHERR VON SCHWEIGER.

BEST!
MOST AMIABLE!
FIRST AND FOREMOST TURNER MEISTER OF EUROPE!

The bearer of this is a poor devil! (like many
another!!!) You could assist him by asking your
gracious master whether he is disposed to purchase
one of his small but neat pianos. I also beg you
will recommend him to any of the Chamberlains
or Adjutants of the Archduke Carl, to see whether
it is possible that H.R.H. would buy one of these
instruments for his Duchess. We therefore request
an introduction from the illustrious Turner Meister
for this poor devil^[1] to the Chamberlains and Adjutants
of the household.

Likewise
1
poor devil,
[K.] L. V. BEETHOVEN.

195.
TO G. DEL RIO.

Nov. 16, 1816.

MY DEAR FRIEND,–

My household seems about to make shipwreck,
or something very like it. You know that I was
duped into taking this house on false pretexts; besides,
my health does not seem likely to improve in
a hurry. To engage a tutor under such circumstances,
whose character and whose very exterior
even are unknown to me, and thus to intrust my
Carl’s education to hap-hazard, is quite out of the
question, no matter how great the sacrifices which
I shall be again called on to make. I beg you,
therefore, to keep Carl for the ensuing quarter,
commencing on the 9th. I will in so far comply
with your proposal as to the cultivation of the
science of music, that Carl may come to me two or
three times a week, leaving you at six o’clock in
the evening and staying with me till the following
morning, when he can return to you by eight
o’clock. It would be too fatiguing for Carl to come
every day, and indeed too great an effort and tie
for me likewise, as the lessons must be given at the
same fixed hour.

During this quarter we can discuss more minutely
the most suitable plan for Carl, taking into consideration
both his interests and my own. I must,
alas! mention my own also in these times, which
are daily getting worse. If your garden residence
had agreed with my health, everything might have
been easily adjusted. With regard to my debt to
you for the present quarter, I beg you will be so
obliging as to call on me, that I may discharge it;
the bearer of this has the good fortune to be endowed
by Providence with a vast amount of stupidity,
which I by no means grudge him the benefit
of, provided others do not suffer by it. As to the
remaining expenses incurred for Carl, either during
his illness or connected with it, I must, for a few
days only, request your indulgence, having great
calls on me at present from all quarters. I wish
also to know what fee I ought to give Smetana for
the successful operation he performed; were I rich,
or not in the same sad position in which all are
who have linked their fate to this country (always
excepting Austrian usurers), I would make no
inquiries on the subject; and I only wish you to
give me a rough estimate of the proper fee. Farewell!
I cordially embrace you, and shall always
look on you as a friend of mine and of Carl’s.

I am, with esteem, your
L. V. BEETHOVEN.

196.
TO G. DEL RIO.

Though I would gladly spare you all needless
disagreeable trouble, I cannot, unluckily, do so on
this occasion. Yesterday, in searching for some
papers, I found this pile, which has been sent to
me respecting Carl. I do not quite understand
them, and you would oblige me much by employing
some one to make out a regular statement of
all your outlay for Carl, so that I may send for it
to-morrow. I hope you did not misunderstand me
when I yesterday alluded to magnanimity, which
certainly was not meant for you, but solely for the
“Queen of the Night,” who is never weary of
hoisting the sails of her vindictiveness against me;
so on this account I require vouchers, more for the
satisfaction of others than for her sake (as I never
will submit to render her any account of my actions).
No stamp is required, and the sum alone
for each quarter need be specified, for I believe
most of the accounts are forthcoming; so all you
have to do is to append them to your prospectus
[the conclusion illegible].

L. V. BEETHOVEN.

197.
TO G. DEL RIO.

Nov. 14, 1816.

MY GOOD FRIEND,–

I beg you will allow Carl to come to me to-morrow,
as it is the anniversary of his father’s death
[Nov. 15th], and we wish to visit his grave together.
I shall probably come to fetch him between
twelve and one o’clock. I wish to know
the effect of my treatment of Carl, after your recent
complaints. In the mean time, it touched me
exceedingly to find him so susceptible as to his
honor. Before we left your house I gave him
some hints on his want of industry, and while
walking together in a graver mood than usual, he
pressed my hand vehemently, but met with no response
from me. At dinner he scarcely eat anything,
and said that he felt very melancholy, the
cause of which I could not extract from him. At
last, in the course of our walk, he owned that he
was vexed because he had not been so industrious
as usual. I said what I ought on the subject, but
in a kinder manner than before. This, however,
proves a certain delicacy of feeling, and such traits
lead me to augur all that is good. If I cannot
come to you to-morrow, I hope you will let me
know by a few lines the result of my conference
with Carl.

I once more beg you to let me have the account
due for the last quarter. I thought that you had
misunderstood my letter, or even worse than that.
I warmly commend my poor orphan to your good
heart, and, with kind regards to all, I remain

Your friend,
L. V. BEETHOVEN.

198.
TO G. DEL RIO.

MY GOOD FRIEND,–

Pray forgive me for having allowed the enclosed
sum to be ready for you during the last twelve days
or more, and not having sent it. I have been very
much occupied, and am only beginning to recover,
though indeed the word recovery has not yet been
pronounced.

In haste, with much esteem, ever yours,
L. V. BEETHOVEN.

199.
TO HERR TSCHISCHKA.

SIR,–

It is certainly of some moment to me not to appear
in a false light, which must account for the accompanying
statement being so prolix. As to the
future system of education, I can at all events congratulate
myself on having done all that I could
possibly effect at present for the best, and trust that
the future may be in accordance with it. But if the
welfare of my nephew demands a change, I shall be
the first not only to propose such a step, but to
carry it out. I am no self-interested guardian, but I
wish to establish a new monument to my name
through my nephew. I have no need of my nephew,
but he has need of me. Idle talk and calumnies are
beneath the dignity of a man with proper self-respect,
and what can be said when these extend even
to the subject of linen!!! This might cause me
great annoyance, but a just man ought to be able to
bear injustice without in the most remote degree deviating
from the path of right. In this conviction I
will stand fast, and nothing shall make me flinch.
To deprive me of my nephew would indeed entail a
heavy responsibility. As a matter of policy as well
as of morality, such a step would be productive of
evil results to my nephew. I urgently recommend
his interests to you. As for me, my actions for his
benefit (not for my own) must speak for me.

I remain, with esteem,
Your obedient
BEETHOVEN.

Being very busy, and rather indisposed, I must
claim your indulgence for the writing of the memorial.

200.
WRITTEN IN ENGLISH TO MR. BIRCHALL,–LONDON.

Vienna 14. December 1816–1055 Sailerstette.

DEAR SIR,–

I give you my word of honor that I have signed
and delivered the receipt to the home Fries and Co.
some day last August, who as they say have transmitted
it to Messrs. Coutts and Co. where you’ll
have the goodness to apply. Some error might
have taken place that instead of Messrs. C. sending
it to you they have been directed to keep it till
fetched. Excuse this irregularity, but it is not my
fault, nor had I ever the idea of withholding it from
the circumstance of the £5 not being included.
Should the receipt not come forth as Messrs. C., I
am ready to sign any other, and you shall have it
directly with return of post.