may prove yourself higher and better than people expect.  Send your linen here at once; your gray trousers must still be wearable, at all events at home; for, my dear son, you are indeed very dear to me!  My address is, “At the coppersmith’s,” &c.  Write instantly to say that you have got this letter.  I will send a few lines to that contemptible creature, Schindler, though I am most unwilling to have anything to do with such a wretch.  If we could write as quickly as we think and feel, I could say a great deal not a little remarkable; but for to-day I can only add that I wish a certain Carl may prove worthy of all my love and unwearied care, and learn fully to appreciate it.

Though not certainly exacting, as you know, still there are many ways in which we can show those who are better and nobler than ourselves that we acknowledge their superiority.

I embrace you from my heart.

Your faithful and true

FATHER.

351.

TO THE ARCHDUKE RUDOLPH.

August, 1823.

I am really very ill, and not suffering from my eyes alone.  I intend to drag myself to-morrow to Baden, to look out for a lodging, and to go there altogether in the course of a few days.  The air in town has a very bad effect on my whole organization, and has really injured my health, having gone twice to town to consult my physicians.  It will be easier for me to repair to Y.R.H. in Baden.  I am quite inconsolable, both on account of Y.R.H. and myself, that my usefulness is thus limited.  I have marked some things in the Variations, but I can explain these better verbally.

[K.]

352.

TO THE ARCHDUKE RUDOLPH.

Baden, August 22, 1823.

Your gracious letter led me to believe that Y.R.H. intended to return to Baden, where I arrived on the 13th, very ill; but I am now better.  I had recently another inflammatory cold, having just recovered from one.  My digestion, too, was miserable, and my eyes very bad; in short, my whole system seemed impaired.  I was obliged to make the effort to come here, without even being able to see Y.R.H.  Thank God, my eyes are so much better that I can again venture to make tolerable use of them by daylight.  My other maladies, too, are improving, and I cannot expect more in so short a period.  How I wish that Y.R.H. were only here, when in a few days we could entirely make up for lost time.  Perhaps I may still be so fortunate as to see Y.R.H. here, and be able to show my zeal to serve Y.R.H.  How deeply does this cause me to lament my unhappy state of health.  Much as I wish for its entire restoration, still I greatly fear that this will never be the case, and on this account I hope for Y.R.H.’s indulgence.  As I can now at length prove how gladly I place myself at Y.R.H.’s disposal, my most anxious desire is that you would be pleased to make use of me.

[K.]

353.

TO THE ARCHDUKE RUDOLPH.