421.

TO HIS NEPHEW.

Baden, May 31, 1825.

MY DEAR SON,—­

I intend to come to town on Saturday, and to return here either on Sunday evening, or early on Monday.  I beg you will therefore ask Dr. Bach [advocate] at what hour I can see him, and also fetch the key from brother Baecker’s [a brother-in-law of Johann Beethoven’s], to see whether in the room inhabited by my unbrotherly brother, the arrangements are such that I can stay a night there; and if there is clean linen, &c., &c.  As Thursday is a holiday, and it is unlikely that you will come here (indeed I do not desire that you should), you may easily execute these two commissions for me.  You can let me know the result when I arrive on Saturday.  I don’t send you money, for if you want any, you can borrow a gulden at home.  Moderation is necessary for young people, and you do not appear to pay sufficient attention to this, as you had money without my knowledge, nor do I yet know whence it came.  Fine doings!  It is not advisable that you should go to the theatre at present, on account of the distraction it causes.  The 5 florins procured by Dr. Reissig, I will pay off by instalments, punctually every month.  So enough of this!  Misled as you have been, it would be no bad thing were you at length to cultivate simplicity and truth, for my heart has been so deeply wounded by your deceitful conduct, that it is difficult to forget it.  Even were I disposed to submit like an ox to so hard a yoke without murmuring, if you pursue the same course towards others, you will never succeed in gaining the love of any one.  As God is my witness, I can think of nothing but you, and my contemptible brother, and the detestable family that I am afflicted with.  May God vouchsafe to listen to my prayer, for never again can I trust you!

Your Father, alas!

Yet fortunately not your Father.

422.

TO HIS NEPHEW.

Baden, June 9, 1825.

I wish you at least to come here on Sundays.  In vain do I ask for an answer.  God help you and me!  As ever,

Your attached

FATHER.

I have written to Herr v.  Reissig to desire you to come here on Sundays.  The caleche leaves his house at six o’clock, from the Kugel, auf der Wieden.  You have only to work and study a little in advance, to lose nothing.  I regret being obliged to cause you this annoyance; you are to return the same afternoon at five o’clock, with the caleche.  Your place is already paid for; you can shave here in the morning, and a shirt and neckcloth will be ready for you, so that you may arrive at the right time.

Farewell.  If I reproach you it is not without good cause, and it would be hard to have sacrificed so much, merely to bestow a commonplace man on the world.  I hope to see you without fail.