[Footnote 1:  This no doubt refers to a letter from Prince Gallizin, March 11, 1824:—­“I beg you will be so good as to let me know when I may expect the Quartet, which I await with the utmost impatience.  If you require money, I request you will draw on Messrs. Stieglitz & Co., in St. Petersburg, for the sum you wish to have, and it will be paid to your order.”]

364.

TO HERR V. RZEHATSCHEK.

1824.

MY WORTHY HERR V. RZEHATSCHEK,—­

Schuppanzigh assures me that you intend to be so kind as to lend me the instruments required for my concert;[1] thus encouraged, I venture to ask you to do so, and hope not to meet with a refusal when thus earnestly soliciting you to comply with my request.

Your obedient servant,

BEETHOVEN.

[Footnote 1:  It seems highly probable that this concert is the celebrated one in the spring of 1824, when the Ninth Symphony and a portion of the Grand Mass were performed.]

365.

TO THE HIGH CHAMBERLAIN PRINCE TRAUTMANNSDORF.[1]

I am deeply indebted to your Highness for your invariable politeness, which I prize probably the more from Y.H. being by no means devoid of sympathy for my art.  I hope one day to have the opportunity of proving my esteem for your H.

[Footnote 1:  Enclosed in a note to Schindler, who was to apply for the great Redoutensaal for the concert on April 8, 1824.]

366.

TO COUNT MORITZ LICHNOWSKY.[1]

Insincerity I despise; visit me no more; my concert is not to take place.

BEETHOVEN.

[Footnote 1:  The originals of these three well-known notes were found by Schindler on the piano, where Beethoven usually left things of the kind, which he intended his amanuensis to take charge of.  Lichnowsky, Schuppanzigh, and Schindler had all met at Beethoven’s, as if by chance, in order to discuss with him some difficulties which stood in the way of the concert.  The suspicious maestro saw only collusion and treachery in this, and wrote these notes, which Schindler did not allow to be sent.]

367.

TO HERR SCHUPPANZIGH.

Come no more to see me.  I give no concert.

BEETHOVEN.

368.

TO HERR SCHINDLER.

Do not come to me till I summon you.  No concert.

BEETHOVEN.

369.

TO HERR V. SARTORIUS, ROYAL CENSOR.

SIR,—­

As I hear that obstacles are likely to arise on the part of the royal censorship to a portion of sacred music being given at an evening concert in the Theatre “an der Wien,” I must inform you that I have been particularly requested to give these pieces, that the copies for this purpose have already caused serious expense, and the intervening time is too short to produce other new works.  Besides, only three sacred compositions are to be given, and these under the title of hymns.  I do earnestly entreat you, sir, to interest yourself in this matter, as there are always so many difficulties to contend with on similar occasions.  Should this permission not be granted, I do assure you that it will be impossible to give a concert at all, and the whole outlay expended on the copying be thrown away.  I hope you have not quite forgotten me.