[Footnote 2:  This dilettante was Mdlle.  Marie Koschak, subsequently the wife of Dr. Pachler, an advocate in Gratz, from whom two letters are given by Schindler of the dates of August 15th, 1825, and November 5th, 1826, in which she invites Beethoven to visit her in Gratz.  Schindler considers as applicable to this lady the words of a note in Beethoven’s writing of which he has given a fac-simile in his Biography, I. 95; the date 1817 or 1818.  They are as follows:—­“Love alone, yes! love alone can make your life happier.  O God! grant that I may at last find her who can strengthen me in virtue, whom I can legitimately call my own.  On July 27th, when she drove past me in Baden, she seemed to gaze at me.”  This lady also plays a friendly part in Franz Schubert’s Life.  See her Biography by Dr. Kreissle.]

81.

TO ZMESKALL.

Feb. 2, 1812.

By no means extraordinary, but very ordinary mender of pens! whose talent has failed on this occasion (for those I send require to be fresh mended), when do you intend at last to cast off your fetters?—­when?  You never for a moment think of me; accursed to me is life amid this Austrian barbarism.  I shall go now chiefly to the “Swan,” as in other taverns I cannot defend myself against intrusion.  Farewell! that is, fare as well as I wish you to do without

Your friend,

BEETHOVEN.

Most wonderful of men!  We beg that your servant will engage a person to fit up my apartment; as he is acquainted with the lodgings, he can fix the proper price at once.  Do this soon, you Carnival scamp!!!!!!!

The enclosed note is at least a week old.

82.

TO ZMESKALL.

Feb. 8, 1812.

Most extraordinary and first and foremost man of the pendulum in the world, and without a lever too!!!

I am much indebted to you for having imparted to me some share of your motive power.  I wish to express my gratitude in person, and therefore invite you this morning to come to the “Swan,”—­a tavern, the name of which itself shows that it is a fitting place when such a subject is in question,

Yours ever,

BEETHOVEN.

83.

TO VARENNA,—­GRATZ.

Vienna, Feb. 8, 1812.

Herr Rettich has already got the parts of the Oratorio, and when you no longer require them I beg you will send them back to me.  It is not probable that anything is wanting, but even in that case, as you have the score, you can easily remedy this.  I only yesterday received the Overtures from Hungary, and shall have them copied and forwarded to you as soon as possible.  I likewise send a March with a vocal Chorus, also from the “Ruins of Athens.”  Altogether you will now have sufficient to fill up the time.

As these pieces are only in manuscript, I shall let you know at the time I send them what precautions I wish you to take with regard to the Overtures and the March with Chorus.