As in spite of every effort I can find no copyist to write in my house, I send you my own manuscript; all you have to do is to desire Schlemmer to get you an efficient copyist, who must, however, write out the Trio in your palace, otherwise there would be no security against piracy.  I am better, and hope to have the honor of waiting on you in the course of a few days, when we must strive to make up for lost time.  I always feel anxious and uneasy when I do not attend your Royal Highness as often or as assiduously as I wish.  It is certainly the truth when I say that the loss is mine, but I trust I shall not soon again be so unwell.  Be graciously pleased to remember me; the time may yet come when I shall be able to show you doubly and trebly that I deserve this more than ever.

I am your Royal Highness’s devoted servant,

LUDWIG V. BEETHOVEN.

[Footnote 1:  Schlemmer was for many years Beethoven’s copyist.]

71.

MY DEAR FRIEND,—­[1]

I have taken this trouble only that I might figure correctly, and thus be able sometimes to lead others.  As for mistakes, I scarcely ever required to have them pointed out to me, having had from my childhood such a quick perception, that I exercised it unconscious that it ought to be so, or in fact could be otherwise.

[Footnote 1:  Written on a sheet of music-paper (oblong folio) numbered 22, and evidently torn out of a large book.  On the other side (21) is written, in Beethoven’s hand, instructions on the use of the fourth in retardations, with five musical examples.  The leaf is no doubt torn from one of the books that Beethoven had compiled from various text-books, for the instruction of the Archduke Rudolph.  I have therefore placed Beethoven’s remark here.]

72.

TO THE DRAMATIC POET TREITSCHKE.

June 6, 1811.

DEAR TREITSCHKE,—­

Have you read the book, and may I venture to hope that you will be persuaded to undertake it?  Be so good as to give me an answer, as I am prevented going to you myself.  If you have already read it, then send it back to me, that I may also look over it again before you begin to work at it.  Above all, if it be your good pleasure that I should soar to the skies on the wings of your poetry, I entreat you to effect this as soon as possible.

Your obedient servant,

L. V. BEETHOVEN.

73.

TO ZMESKALL.

Sept. 10, 1811.

DEAR ZMESKALL,—­

Let the rehearsal stand over for the present.  I must see my doctor again to-day, of whose bungling I begin to tire.  Thanks for your metronome; let us try whether we can measure Time into Eternity with it, for it is so simple and easily managed that there seems to be no impediment to this!  In the mean time we will have a conference on the subject.  The mathematical precision of clockwork is of course greater; yet formerly, in watching the little experiments you made in my presence, I thought there was something worthy of notice in your metronome, and I hope we shall soon succeed in setting it thoroughly right.  Ere long I hope to see you.