Your good and loving

FATHER.

414.

TO HIS NEPHEW.

Noon, 1 o’clock.

MY DEAR SON,—­

I merely wish to let you know that the old woman is not yet returned,—­why, I cannot tell.  Inquire immediately at Hoebel’s in the Kothgasse, whether the Hoebel who belongs to this place set off from Vienna to Baden?  It is really so distressing to me to depend on such people, that if life did not possess higher charms, it would be utterly insupportable in my eyes.  You no doubt got my yesterday’s letter, and the 2 florins for the chocolate.  I shall be obliged to drink coffee to-morrow; perhaps after all it is better for me than chocolate, as the prescriptions of this B. [Braunhofer] have been repeatedly wrong.  Indeed he seems to me very ignorant, and a blockhead into the bargain; he must have known about the asparagus.  Having dined at the inn to-day, I have a threatening of diarrhoea.  I have no more white wine, so I must get it from the inn, and such wine too! for which, however, I pay 3 florins!  Two days ago the old woman wrote to me that she wished to end her days in an alms-house; perhaps she will not return to me; so be it in God’s name! she will always be a wicked old woman.  She ought to make arrangements with the person whom she knows of.  She wrote to me in a very different strain from that in which she spoke to you on Sunday, and said “that the people refused to give up the bell-pull.”  Who knows whether she may not have some interest in the matter?  She went into town yesterday at six o’clock, and I begged her to make haste back here this forenoon; if she still comes, I must go to town the day after to-morrow.  Leave a written message to say when I am to see you....  Write me a few lines immediately.  How much I regret troubling you, but you must see that I cannot do otherwise....  Your attached

FATHER.

How distressing to be in such a state here!

To Herr Carl van Beethoven,

Vienna, Alleengasse 72, Karlskirche, 1ter Etage, at Herr Schlemmer’s.

415.

TO HIS NEPHEW.

MY DEAR SON,—­

I sent for the cabinet-maker to-day with the old—­witch—­to Asinanius’[1] house.  Don’t forget the paintings, and the things sent in last summer; at all events look for them.  I may perhaps come on Saturday; if not, you must come to me on Sunday.  May God watch over you, my dear son.

Your attached

FATHER.

I cannot write much.  Send me a few words.[2]

[Footnote 1:  It was thus Beethoven named his pseudo-brother.]

[Footnote 2:  Underneath is written in pencil by another hand, “I shall be at the usual place at three o’clock, s’il vous plait.”  The whole appears to be afterwards stroked out.]

416.

TO HIS NEPHEW.

Do send the chocolate at last by the old woman.  If Ramler is not already engaged, he may perhaps drive her over.  I become daily thinner, and feel far from well; and no physician, no sympathizing friends!  If you can possibly come on Sunday, pray do so; but I have no wish to deprive you of any pleasure, were I only sure that you would spend your Sunday properly away from me.