11.

The musical Count is from this day forth cashiered with infamy.  The first violin [Schuppanzigh] ruthlessly transported to Siberia.  The Baron [see No. 10] for a whole month strictly interdicted from asking questions; no longer to be so hasty, and to devote himself exclusively to his ipse miserum.[1]

B.

[Footnote 1:  Written in gigantic characters in pencil on a large sheet of paper.  The “musical Count” is probably Count Moritz Lichnowsky, brother of Prince Carl Lichnowsky, in whose house were held those musical performances in which Beethoven’s works were first produced.  Even at that time he behaved in a very dictatorial manner to those gentlemen when his compositions were badly executed.  Thence the name given him by Haydn of “The Great Mogul.”]

12.

TO PASTOR AMENDA,—­COURLAND.

Does Amenda think that I can ever forget him, because I do not write? in fact, never have written to him?—­as if the memory of our friends could only thus be preserved!  The best man I ever knew has a thousand times recurred to my thoughts!  Two persons alone once possessed my whole love, one of whom still lives, and you are now the third.  How can my remembrance of you ever fade?  You will shortly receive a long letter about my present circumstances and all that can interest you.  Farewell, beloved, good, and noble friend!  Ever continue your love and friendship towards me, just as I shall ever be your faithful

BEETHOVEN.

13.

TO PASTOR AMENDA.

1800.

MY DEAR, MY GOOD AMENDA, MY WARM-HEARTED FRIEND,—­

I received and read your last letter with deep emotion, and with mingled pain and pleasure.  To what can I compare your fidelity and devotion to me?  Ah! it is indeed delightful that you still continue to love me so well.  I know how to prize you, and to distinguish you from all others; you are not like my Vienna friends.  No! you are one of those whom the soil of my fatherland is wont to bring forth; how often I wish that you were with me, for your Beethoven is very unhappy.  You must know that one of my most precious faculties, that of hearing, is become very defective; even while you were still with me I felt indications of this, though I said nothing; but it is now much worse.  Whether I shall ever be cured remains yet to be seen; it is supposed to proceed from the state of my digestive organs, but I am almost entirely recovered in that respect.  I hope indeed that my hearing may improve, but I scarcely think so, for attacks of this kind are the most incurable of all.  How sad my life must now be!—­forced to shun all that is most dear and precious to me, and to live with such miserable egotists as ——­, &c.  I can with truth say that of all my friends Lichnowsky [Prince Carl] is the most genuine.  He last year settled 600 florins on me, which, together with the good sale of my works, enables me to live free from care as to my maintenance.  All that I now write I can dispose of five times over, and be well paid into the bargain.  I have been writing a good deal latterly, and as I hear that you have ordered some pianos from ——­, I will send you some of my compositions in the packing-case of one of these instruments, by which means they will not cost you so much.