[Footnote 2:  The Variations composed by the Archduke Rudolph, mentioned in the letters 345 and 351, are not the same as the published ones, and are unknown.]

346.

TO F. RIES.

Hetzendorf, July 16, 1823.

MY DEAR RIES,—­

I received your letter with much pleasure the day before yesterday.  The Variations have, no doubt, arrived by this time.  I could not write the dedication to your wife, not knowing her name; so I beg you will write it yourself on the part of your wife’s friend and your own; let it be a surprise to her, for the fair sex like that.—­Entre nous, surprise is always the greatest charm of the beautiful!  As for the Allegri di Bravura, I must make allowance for yours.  To tell you the truth, I am no great friend to that kind of thing, as it is apt to entail too much mere mechanism; at least, such is the case with those I know.  I have not yet looked at yours, but I shall ask ——­ about them.  I recommend you to be cautious in your intercourse with him.  Could I not be of use to you in many ways here?  These printers, or rather misprinters, as they ought to be called to deserve their names, pirate your works, and give you nothing in return; this, surely, might be differently managed.  I mean to send you some choruses shortly, even if obliged to compose some new ones, for this is my favorite style.

Thanks for the proceeds of the bagatelles, with which I am quite satisfied.  Give nothing to the King of England.  Pray accept anything you can get for the Variations.  I shall be perfectly contented.  I only must stipulate to take no other reward for the dedication to your wife than the kiss which I am to receive in London.

You name guineas, whereas I only get pounds sterling, and I hear there is a difference between these.  Do not be angry with un pauvre musicien autrichien, who is still at a very low ebb.  I am now writing a new violin quartet.  Might not this be offered to the musical or unmusical London Jews?—­en vrai Juif.

I am, with cordial regard,
Your old friend,

BEETHOVEN.

347.

TO HERR GEHEIMRATH VON KOeNNERITZ,—­DRESDEN,[1]
DIRECTOR OF THE ROYAL ORCHESTRA AND THEATRE IN SAXONY.

Hetzendorf, July 17, 1823.

SIR,—­

I have too long deferred sending you a signed receipt and thanks, but I feel sure you will pardon the delay from my great pressure of business, owing to my health having improved, and God knows how long this may continue.  The description given by my dear friend Maria Weber[2] of your generous and noble disposition encourages me to apply to you on another subject, namely, about a Grand Mass which I am now issuing in manuscript.  Though I have met with a previous refusal on this matter [337], still, as my esteemed Cardinal, H.R.  Highness the Archduke Rudolph, has written to H.R.H.  Prince Anton, requesting him to recommend the Mass to his Majesty the King of Saxony, I think this fresh application might at all events be made, as I should consider it a great honor to number among my distinguished subscribers (such as the King of Prussia, the Emperor of Russia, the King of France, &c.) so great a connoisseur in music as the King of Saxony.