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