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.]
[Footnote 1: A year after Carl von Beethoven's death (Nov. 15, 1815).]
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.
[Footnote 1: A name cannot now be found for the "poor devil."]
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.
If you find Variations--in my style--too dear at £30, I will abate for the
sake of your friendship one third--and you have the offer of such
Variations as fixed in our former lettres for £20 each Air.
Please to publish the Symphony in A immediately--as well as the Sonata--and
the Trio--they being ready here. The Grand Opera Fidelio is my work. The
arrangement for the Pianoforte has been published here under my care, but
the score of the Opera itself is not yet published. I have given a copy of
the score to Mr. Neate under the seal of friendship and whom I shall direct
to treat for my account in case an offer should present.
I anxiously hope your health is improving, give me leave to subscrive
myself
Dear Sir
Your very obedient Serv.
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN.
201.
TO ZMESKALL.
Dec. 16, 1816.
With this, dear Zmeskall, you will receive my friendly dedication [a
stringed quartet, Op. 95], which may, I hope, serve as a pleasant memorial
of our long-enduring friendship here; pray accept it as a proof of my
esteem, and not merely as the extreme end of a thread long since spun out
(for you are one of my earliest friends in Vienna).
Farewell! Beware of mouldering fortresses! for an attack on them will be
more trying than on those in a better state of preservation! As ever,
Your friend,
BEETHOVEN.
N.B. When you have a moment's leisure, let me know the probable cost of a
livery, without linen, but including hat and boots. Strange changes have
come to pass in my house. The man is off to the devil, I am thankful to
say, whereas his wife seems the more resolved to take root here.
202.
TO FRAU VON STREICHER--NÉE STEIN.
Dec. 28, 1816.
N---- ought to have given you the New Year's tickets yesterday, but it
seems she did not do so. The day before I was occupied with Maelzel, whose
business was pressing, as he leaves this so soon; otherwise you may be sure
that I would have hurried up again to see you. Your dear kind daughter was
with me yesterday, but I scarcely ever remember being so ill; my _precious
servants_ were occupied from seven o'clock till ten at night in trying to
heat the stove. The bitter cold, particularly in my room, caused me a
chill, and the whole of yesterday I could scarcely move a limb. All day I
was coughing, and had the most severe headache I ever had in my life; so by
six o'clock in the evening I was obliged to go to bed, where I still am,
though feeling somewhat better. Your brother dined with me yesterday, and
has shown me great kindness. You are aware that on the same day, the 27th
of December, I discharged B. [Baberl]. I cannot endure either of these vile
creatures; I wonder if Nany will behave rather better from the departure of
her colleague? I doubt it--but in that case I shall send her _packing_
without any ceremony. She is too uneducated for a housekeeper, indeed quite
a _beast_; but the other, in spite of her pretty face, is even _lower than
the beasts_. As the New Year draws near, I think five florins will be
enough for Nany; I have not paid her the charge for _making her spencer_,
on account of her _bad behavior to you_. The other certainly _deserves no
New Year's gift_; besides, she has nine florins of mine on hand, and when
she leaves I don't expect to receive more than four or five florins of that
sum. I wish to have _your opinion about all this_. Pray accept my best
wishes for your welfare, which are offered in all sincerity. I am your
debtor in so many ways, that I really often feel quite ashamed. Farewell; I
trust I may always retain your friendship.
Now, as ever, your friend,
L. V. BEETHOVEN.
203.
TO FRAU VON STREICHER.
I thank you for the interest you take in me. I am rather better, though
to-day again I have been obliged to endure a great deal from Nany; but I
shied half a dozen books at her head by way of a New Year's gift. We have
stripped off the leaves (by sending off Baberl) and lopped off the
branches, but we must extirpate the _roots_, till nothing is left but the
actual soil.
204.
TO FRAU VON STREICHER.
Nany is not strictly _honest_, and an odiously stupid _animal_ into the
bargain. Such people must be managed not by _love_ but by _fear_. I now see
this clearly. Her account-book alone cannot show you everything clearly;
you must often drop in unexpectedly at dinner-time, like an avenging angel,
to see with your own eyes _what_ we actually have. I never dine at home
now, _unless_ I have some friend as my guest, for I have no wish to pay as
much for one person as would serve for four. I shall _now soon_ have my
dear son Carl with me, so economy is more necessary than ever. I cannot
prevail on myself to go to you; I know you will forgive this. I am very
sensitive, and not used to such things, so the less ought I to expose
myself to them. In addition to twelve kreutzers for bread, Nany has a roll
of white bread every morning. Is this usual?--and it is the same with the
cook. A daily roll for breakfast comes to eighteen florins a year.
_Farewell_, and _work well_ for me. Mdlle. Nany is wonderfully changed for
the better since I sent the half-dozen books at her head. Probably they
chanced to come in collision with her _dull brain_ or her _bad heart_; at
all events, she now plays the part of a penitent swindler!!!
In haste, yours,
BEETHOVEN.
205.
TO FRAU VON STREICHER.
Nany yesterday took me to task in the vulgar manner usual with people of
her _low class_, about my complaining to you; so she evidently knew that I
had written to you on the subject. All the devilry began again yesterday
morning, but I made short work of it by throwing the heavy arm-chair beside
my bed at B.'s head, which procured me peace for the rest of the day. They
always take their revenge on me when I write to you, or when they discover
any communication between us.
I do thank Heaven that I everywhere find men who interest themselves in me;
one of the _most distinguished Professors_ in this University has in the
kindest manner undertaken _all that concerns Carl's education_. If you
happen to meet any of the Giannatasios at Czerny's, you had better _know
nothing of what is going on about Carl_, and say that it is _contrary_ to
my _usual habit to disclose my plans, as when a project is told to others
it is no longer exclusively your own_. They would like to interfere in the
matter, and I do not choose that these _commonplace people should do so,
both for_ my _own sake and Carl's_. Over their portico is inscribed, in
golden letters, "Educational Institution," whereas "_Non_-Educational
Institution" would be more appropriate.
As for the servants, there is only _one voice_ about their immorality, to
which _all_ the other annoyances here may be ascribed.
Pray receive my benediction in place of that of the Klosterneuburgers.[1]
In haste, your friend,
BEETHOVEN.
[Footnote 1: Frau von Streicher was at that time in Klosterneuburg.]
206.
TO FRAU VON STREICHER.
Judgment was executed to-day on the notorious criminal! She bore it nearly
in the same spirit as Caesar did Brutus's dagger, except that in the former
case truth formed the basis, while in hers only wicked malice. The
kitchen-maid seems more handy than the former _ill-conducted beauty_; she
no longer shows herself,--a sign that she does not expect a _good
character_ from me, though I really had some thoughts of giving her one.
The kitchen-maid at first made rather a wry face about carrying wood, &c.
207.
TO THE ARCHDUKE RUDOLPH.
Last day of December, 1816.
I have been again obliged to keep my room ever since the Burgher
concert,[1] and some time must no doubt elapse before I shall be able to
dismiss all precautions as to my health. The year is about to close; and
with this new year my warmest wishes are renewed for the welfare of Y.R.H.;
but indeed these have neither beginning nor end with me, for every day I
cherish the same aspirations for Y.R.H. If I may venture to add a wish for
myself to the foregoing, it is, that I may daily thrive and prosper more in
Y.R.H.'s good graces. The master will always strive not to be unworthy of
the favor of his illustrious master and pupil.
[K.]
[Footnote 1: Beethoven directed his A major Symphony in the Burgher concert
in the Royal Redoutensaal on the 25th December, 1816.]
208.
TO G. DEL RIO.
... As to his mother, she urgently requested to see Carl in my house. You
have sometimes seen me tempted to place more confidence in her, and my
feelings would lead me to guard against harshness towards her, especially
as it is not in her power to injure Carl. But you may well imagine that to
one usually so independent of others, the annoyances to which I am exposed
through Carl are often utterly insupportable, and above all with regard to
his mother; I am only too glad to hear nothing of her, which is the cause
of my avoiding her name. With respect to Carl, I beg you will enforce the
strictest discipline on him, and if he refuses to obey your orders or to do
his duty, I trust you will at once _punish_ him. Treat him as if he were
your own child rather than a _mere pupil_, for I already told you that
during his father's lifetime he only submitted to the discipline of blows,
which was a bad system; still, such was the fact, and we must not forget
it.
If you do not see much of me, pray ascribe it solely to the little
inclination I have for society, which is sometimes more developed and
sometimes less; and this you might attribute to a change in my feelings,
but it is not so. What is good alone lives in my memory, and not what is
painful. Pray impute therefore solely to these hard times my not more
practically showing my gratitude to you on account of Carl. God, however,
directs all things; so my position may undergo a favorable change, when I
shall hasten to show you how truly I am, with sincere esteem, your grateful
friend,
L. V. BEETHOVEN.
I beg you will read this letter to Carl.
209.
TO G. DEL RIO.
Carl must be at H.B.'s to-day before four o'clock; I must request you
therefore to ask his professor to dismiss him at half-past three o'clock;
if this cannot be managed he must not go into school at all. In the latter
case, I will come myself and fetch him; in the former, I will meet him in
the passage of the University. To avoid all confusion, I beg for an
explicit answer as to what you settle. As you have been loudly accused of
showing great party feeling, I will take Carl myself. If you do not see me,
attribute it to my distress of mind, for I am now only beginning to feel
the full force of this terrible incident.[1]
In haste, your
BEETHOVEN.