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--
[Music: Treble clef, C major, 4/4 time, Adagio.
al-lein al-lein al-lein]
_Silentium!!!_
Farewell, my esteemed friend; pray continue to esteem me worthy of your
friendship. Yours,
BEETHOVEN.
A thousand compliments to the illustrious Princess.
[Footnote 1: The date reversed, as written by Beethoven, is here given.]
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.]
[Footnote 1: A tournament was held on the 23d November, 1814, in the Royal
Riding School. Beethoven was probably requested by the Archduke to compose
some music for it, which, however, has not been traced.]
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.]
[Footnote 1: The Cantata _Der glorreiche Augenblick_, the poetry by Dr.
Alois Weissenbach, set to music by Beethoven for chorus and orchestra (Op.
136), was first given in Vienna on the 29th November, 1814, and repeated on
the 2d December.]
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.]
[Footnote 1: What concert Beethoven alludes to I cannot discover, but no
mention of it being made in the very exact _Allgemeine Leipziger
Musikalische Zeitung_, it appears not to have taken place.]
[Footnote 2: The new opera, with the subject of which Beethoven was
occupied, was no doubt Treitschke's _Romulus_.]
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.]
[Footnote 1: The present he refers to was probably for the concert of
November 29th, or December 2d, 1814.]
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.]
[Footnote 1: 1814 or 1815. Prince Lobkowitz was still alive at that time
(died December 21st, 1816).]
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.]
[Footnote 1: Count Ferdinand Troyer was one of the Archduke's
chamberlains.]
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.]
[Footnote 1: The festivities in honor of the Princess of Baden were
probably during the Congress, 1814.]
[Footnote 2: The new trio, if the one in B flat for the pianoforte, violin,
and violoncello, Op. 97, was first performed on the 11th April, 1814, in
the hall of the "Komischer Kaiser." Letter 139 also mentions this trio,
composed in 1811 and published in July, 1816.]
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.]
[Footnote 1: The Sonata for pianoforte and violin in G major, Op. 96, was
purchased by Haslinger, April 1st, 1815, and published the end of July,
1816. It was composed in 1814--perhaps in 1813. Thayer thinks in 1810.]
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.
[Footnote 1: See No. 94. On the 18th January, 1815, the Court of Justice at
Prague decreed that the trustees of Prince Kinsky's estate should pay to L.
v. Beethoven the sum of 1200 florins W.W. from November 3d, 1812, instead
of the original written agreement of 1800 florins. Dr. Constant, of
Wurzbach, in his _Biographical Austrian Lexicon_, states that Beethoven
dedicated his splendid song _An die Hoffnung_, Op. 94, to Princess Kinsky,
wife of Prince Ferdinand Kinsky, who died in 1812.]
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
[Footnote 1: This man, now ninety-four years of age and quite blind, was at
that time Beethoven's counsel in Prague. Pasqualati was that benefactor of
Beethoven's who always kept rooms for him in his house on the Mölker
Bastei, and whose kind aid never deserted him to the close of his life.]
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.