There is another matter that I would most earnestly press on you; perhaps you might succeed in doing something for a poor unfortunate man.  I allude to Herr Stoll, son of the celebrated physician.  With many persons the question is whether a man has been ruined by his own fault or by that of others, but this is not so with either you or me; it is sufficient that Stoll is unfortunate, and looks on a journey to Paris as his sole resource, having last year made many influential acquaintances, who, when he goes there, are to endeavor to procure him a professorship in Westphalia.  Stoll has therefore applied to Herr v.  Neumann, in the State Chancery Office, to send him with a government courier to Paris, but the latter refuses to take him for less than twenty-five louis d’or.  Now I request you, my dear friend, to speak to Herr v.  Neumann to arrange, if possible, that the courier should either take Stoll gratis, or for a small sum.  I am persuaded that if there is nothing particular against it, you will be glad to interest yourself in poor Stoll.  I return to the country to-day, but hope soon to be so fortunate as to enjoy an hour of your society.  In the mean time I send you my best wishes, and beg you will believe in the sincere esteem of

Your obedient

LUDWIG v.  BEETHOVEN.

[Footnote 1:  Reichardt states that Stoll was in Vienna in the spring of 1809, which fixes the date of this letter.  Napoleon bestowed a pension on the young poet (who appears to have gone to Paris), mistaking him for his father, the celebrated physician.]

61.

TO BARONESS VON DROSSDICK.

MY ESTEEMED THERESE,—­

You will receive with this what I promised.  Had not many serious obstacles intervened, I would have sent you more, in order to show you that where my friends are concerned I always perform more than I promise.  I hope, and do not doubt, that you are agreeably occupied and enjoying society, but not too much, I trust, to prevent your thinking of us.  It would show too much confidence in you, or too high an estimation of my own merits, were I to attribute the sentiment to you, “That people are not together only when present, but that the absent and the dead also live with us.”  Who could ascribe such a thought to the volatile Therese, who takes the world so lightly?  Among your various occupations, do not forget the piano, or rather, music in general, for which you have so fine a talent:  why not then seriously cultivate it?  You, who have so much feeling for the good and the beautiful, should strive to recognize the perfections of so charming an art, which in return always casts so bright a reflection on us.