diminished this sum, I rested satisfied, till the appearance of the Finance Patent, reducing bank-notes into Einloesung Schein.  I applied to H.I.H. the Archduke Rudolph to request that the portion of the annuity contributed by H.I.H. should in future be paid in Einloesung Schein.  This was at once granted, and I received a written assurance to that effect from H.I.H.  Prince von Lobkowitz agreed to the same with regard to his share,—­700 florins [see No. 84].  H.H.  Prince von Kinsky being at that time in Prague, I addressed my respectful petition to him last May, through Herr Varnhagen von Ense, an officer in the Vogelsang Regiment, that his Highness’s contribution to my salary—­1800 florins—­should be paid like the rest in Einloesung Schein.  Herr von Varnhagen wrote as follows, and the original of the letter is still extant:—­

“I had yesterday the desired interview with Prince Kinsky.  With the highest praise of Beethoven, he at once acceded to his demand, and is prepared to pay up the arrears, and also all future sums from the date of the Einloesung Schein, in that currency.  The cashier here has received the necessary instructions, and Beethoven can draw for the whole sum on his way through Prague, or, if he prefers it, in Vienna, as soon as the Prince returns there.

“Prague, June 9, 1812.”

When passing through Prague some weeks afterwards, I took the opportunity of waiting on the Prince, and received from him the fullest confirmation of this promise.  H.H. likewise assured me that he entirely admitted the propriety of my demand, and considered it quite reasonable.  As I could not remain in Prague till this affair was finally settled, H.H. was so kind as to make me a payment of sixty ducats on account, which, according to H.H.’s calculation, were good for 600 florins Vienna currency.  The arrears were to be paid up on my return to Vienna, and an order given to the cashier to pay my salary in future in Einloesung Schein.  Such was H.H.’s pleasure.  My illness increasing in Toeplitz, I was obliged to remain there longer than I originally intended.  In the month of September I therefore addressed to H.H., who was then in Vienna, through one of my friends here, Herr Oliva, a written memorial, claiming his promise, when H.H. graciously repeated to this friend the assurance he had already given me, adding that in the course of a few days he would give the necessary instructions on the subject to his cashier.

A short time afterwards he left Vienna.  When I arrived there, I inquired from the Prince’s secretary whether H.H. had given directions about my salary before leaving Vienna, when, to my surprise, I was told that H.H. had done nothing in the matter.