about Carl when your admirable wife is with him:  that is quite out of the question.  You can well understand how much it grieves me not to be able to take part in the sufferings of my Carl, and that I at least wish to hear frequently of his progress.  As I have renounced such an unfeeling, unsympathizing friend as Herr B. [Bernard], I must have recourse to your friendship and complaisance on this point also, and shall hope soon to receive a few lines from you.  I beg to send my best regards and a thousand thanks to your admirable wife.

In haste, your

BEETHOVEN.

I wish you to express to Smetana [the surgeon] my esteem and high consideration.

189.

TO G. DEL RIO.

If you do not object, I beg you will allow Carl to come to me with the bearer of this.  I forgot, in my haste, to say that all the love and goodness which Mdme. A.G. [Giannatasio] showed my Carl during his illness are inscribed in the list of my obligations, and I hope one day to show that they are ever present in my mind.  Perhaps I may see you to-day with Carl.

In haste, your sincere friend,

L. V. BEETHOVEN.

190.

TO WEGELER.

I take the opportunity through J. Simrock to remind you of myself.  I hope you received the engraving of me [by Letronne], and likewise the Bohemian glass.  When I next make a pilgrimage through Bohemia you shall have something more of the same kind.  Farewell!  You are a husband and a father; so am I, but without a wife.  My love to your dear ones—­to our dear ones.

Your friend,

L. V. BEETHOVEN.

191.

WRITTEN IN ENGLISH TO MR. BIRCHALL, MUSIC SELLER, LONDON.

Vienna, 1.  Oct. 1816.

MY DEAR SIR,—­

I have duly received the L5 and thought previously you would non increase the number of Englishmen neglecting their word and honor, as I had the misfortune of meeting with two of this sort.  In replic to the other topics of your favor, I have no objection to write variations according to your plan, and I hope you will not find L30 too much, the Accompaniment will be a Flute or Violin or a Violoncello; you’ll either decide it when you send me the approbation of the price, or you’ll leave it to me.  I expect to receive the songs or poetry—­the sooner the better, and you’ll favor me also with the probable number of Works of Variations you are inclined to receive of me.  The Sonata in G with the accompan’t of a Violin to his Imperial Highnesse Archduke Rodolph of Austria—­it is Op’a 96.  The Trio in Bb is dedicated to the same and is Op. 97.  The Piano arrangement of the Symphony in A is dedicated to the Empress of the Russians—­meaning the Wife of the Emp’r Alexander—­Op. 98.