I hasten to apprise you that I have to-day forwarded by post the pianoforte arrangement of the Symphony in A, to the care of Messrs Coutts.  As the Court is absent, few, indeed almost no couriers go from here; moreover, the post is the safest way.  The Symphony ought to be brought out about March; the precise day I will fix myself.  So much time has already been lost on this occasion that I could not give an earlier notice of the period of publication.  The Trio in [??] and the violin Sonata may be allowed more time, and both will be in London a few weeks hence.  I earnestly entreat you, dear Ries, to take charge of these matters, and also to see that I get the money; I require it, and it costs me a good deal before all is sent off.

I have lost 600 florins of my yearly salary; at the time of the bank-notes there was no loss, but then came the Einloesungsscheine [reduced paper-money], which deprives me of these 600 florins, after entailing on me several years of annoyance, and now the total loss of my salary.  We are at present arrived at a point when the Einloesungsscheine are even lower than the bank-notes ever were.  I pay 1000 florins for house-rent:  you may thus conceive all the misery caused by paper-money.

My poor unhappy brother [Carl v.  Beethoven, a cashier in Vienna] is just dead [Nov. 15th, 1815]; he had a bad wife.  For some years past he has been suffering from consumption, and from my wish to make his life less irksome I may compute what I gave him at 10,000 florins (Wiener Waehrung).  This indeed does not seem much to an Englishman, but it is a great deal for a poor German, or rather Austrian.  The unhappy man was latterly much changed, and I must say I lament him from my heart, though I rejoice to think I left nothing undone that could contribute to his comfort.

Tell Mr. Birchall that he is to repay the postage of my letters to you and Mr. Salomon, and also yours to me; he may deduct this from the sum he owes me; I am anxious that those who work for me should lose as little as possible by it.  “Wellington’s Victory at Vittoria"[1] must have arrived long ago through the Messrs. Coutts.  Mr. Birchall need not send payment till he is in possession of all the works; only do not delay letting me know when the day is fixed for the publication of the pianoforte arrangement.  For to-day, I only further earnestly recommend my affairs to your care; I shall be equally at your service at any time.  Farewell, dear Ries.

Your friend,

BEETHOVEN.

[Footnote 1:  “This is also to be the title of the pianoforte arrangement.”  (Note by Beethoven.)]

163.

TO ZMESKALL.

Jan. 1816.

MY GOOD ZMESKALL,—­

I was shocked to discover to-day that I had omitted replying to a proposal from the “Society of Friends to Music in the Austrian States” to write an Oratorio for them.