If you do not see much of me, pray ascribe it solely to the little inclination I have for society, which is sometimes more developed and sometimes less; and this you might attribute to a change in my feelings, but it is not so.  What is good alone lives in my memory, and not what is painful.  Pray impute therefore solely to these hard times my not more practically showing my gratitude to you on account of Carl.  God, however, directs all things; so my position may undergo a favorable change, when I shall hasten to show you how truly I am, with sincere esteem, your grateful friend,

L. V. BEETHOVEN.

I beg you will read this letter to Carl.

209.

TO G. DEL RIO.

Carl must be at H.B.’s to-day before four o’clock; I must request you therefore to ask his professor to dismiss him at half-past three o’clock; if this cannot be managed he must not go into school at all.  In the latter case, I will come myself and fetch him; in the former, I will meet him in the passage of the University.  To avoid all confusion, I beg for an explicit answer as to what you settle.  As you have been loudly accused of showing great party feeling, I will take Carl myself.  If you do not see me, attribute it to my distress of mind, for I am now only beginning to feel the full force of this terrible incident.[1]

In haste, your

BEETHOVEN.

[Footnote 1:  Probably the reversal of the first decree in the lawsuit with Carl’s mother, who in order to procure a verdict more favorable to her claims, pointed out to the Austrian “Landrecht,” where the lawsuit had been hitherto carried on, an error in their proceedings, the “Van,” prefixed to Beethoven’s name, having been considered by them a sign of nobility.  Beethoven was cited to appear, and on the appointed day, pointing to his head and his heart, he said, “My nobility is here, and here.”  The proceedings were then transferred to the “magistrate,” who was in universal bad odor from his mode of conducting his business.]

210.

TO G. DEL RIO.

The assertions of this wicked woman have made such a painful impression on me, that I cannot possibly answer every point to-day; to-morrow you shall have a detailed account of it all; but on no pretext whatever allow her to have access to Carl, and adhere to your rule that she is only to see him once a month.  As she has been once this month already, she cannot come again till the next.

In haste, your

BEETHOVEN.

211.

TO HOFRATH VON MOSEL.

1817.

SIR,—­