Ever, with sincere esteem, your

L. V. BEETHOVEN.

184.

TO G. DEL RIO.

Mdme. A.G. is requested to order several pairs of good linen drawers for Carl.  I intrust Carl to her kindness, and entirely rely on her motherly care.

185.

TO ZMESKALL.

Baden, September 5, 1816.

DEAR Z.,—­

I don’t know whether you received a note that I recently left on the threshold of your door, for the time was too short to enable me to see you.  I must therefore repeat my request about another servant, as the conduct of my present one is such that I cannot possibly keep him.[1] He was engaged on the 25th of April, so on the 25th of September he will have been five months with me, and he received 50 florins on account.  The money for his boots will be reckoned from the third month (in my service), and from that time at the rate of 40 florins per annum; his livery also from the third month.  From the very first I resolved not to keep him, but delayed discharging him, as I wished to get back the value of my florins.  In the mean time if I can procure another, I will let this one leave my service on the 15th of the month, and also give him 20 florins for boot money, and 5 florins a month for livery (both reckoned from the third month), making altogether 35 florins.  I ought therefore still to receive 15 florins, but these I am willing to give up; in this way I shall at all events receive some equivalent for my 50 florins.  If you can find a suitable person, I will give him 2 florins a day while I am in Baden, and if he knows how to cook he can use my firewood in the kitchen. (I have a kitchen, though I do not cook in it.) If not, I will add a few kreutzers to his wages.  As soon as I am settled in Vienna, he shall have 40 florins a month, and board and livery as usual, reckoned from the third month in my service, like other servants.  It would be a good thing if he understood a little tailoring.  So now you have my proposals, and I beg for an answer by the 10th of this month at the latest, that I may discharge my present servant on the 2d, with the usual fortnight’s warning; otherwise I shall be obliged to keep him for another month, and every moment I wish to get rid of him.  As for the new one, you know pretty well what I require,—­good, steady conduct, a good character, and not to be of a bloodthirsty nature, that I may feel my life to be safe, as, for the sake of various scamps in this world, I should like to live a little longer.  By the 10th, therefore, I shall expect to hear from you on this affair.  If you don’t run restive, I will soon send you my treatise on the four violoncello strings, very profoundly handled; the first chapter devoted exclusively to entrails in general, the second to catgut in particular.  I need scarcely give you any further warnings, as you seem to be quite on your guard against wounds inflicted before certain fortresses.  The most profound peace everywhere prevails!!!  Farewell, my good Zmeskaellchen!  I am, as ever, un povero musico and your friend,