458.

TO THE KING OF PRUSSIA.

YOUR MAJESTY,—­

One of the greatest pieces of good fortune of my life is your Majesty having graciously permitted me respectfully to dedicate my present work [the 9th Symphony] to you.

Your Majesty is not only the father of your subjects, but also a patron of art and science; and how much more precious is your gracious permission to me, from being myself so fortunate as to be numbered among your subjects, being a citizen of Bonn.

I beg your Majesty will vouchsafe to accept this work as a slender token of the profound admiration with which I regard your virtues.

I am, your Majesty’s obedient humble servant,

LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN.

459.

TO WEGELER.

Vienna, October 7, 1826.

MY OLD AND BELOVED FRIEND,—­

I really cannot express the pleasure your letter and that of your Lorchen caused me.  An answer speedy as an arrow’s flight ought indeed to have responded, but I am always rather indolent about writing, because I think that the better class of men know me sufficiently without this.  I often compose the answer in my head, but when I wish to write it down I generally throw aside the pen, from not being able to write as I feel.  I recall all the kindness you have ever shown me; for example, your causing my room to be whitewashed, which was an agreeable surprise to me.  It was just the same with all the Breuning family.  Our separation was in the usual course of things; each striving to pursue and to attain his object; while at the same time the everlasting and immutable principles of good still held us closely united.  I cannot unfortunately write so much to you to-day as I could wish, being confined to bed,[1] so I limit my reply to some points in your letter.

You write that in some book I am declared to be the natural son of the late King of Prussia; this was mentioned to me long ago, but I have made it a rule never either to write anything about myself, or to answer anything written by others about me.  I therefore gladly devolve on you the duty of making known to the world the respectability of my parents, and especially that of my mother.

You write to me about your son.  There is no possible doubt that when he comes here he will find a friend and a father in me, and whenever it may be in my power to serve or to assist him, I will gladly do so.

I still have the silhouette of your Lorchen, by which you will see how dear to me to this hour are all those who were kind and loving to me in the days of my youth.  As to my diploma, I may briefly state that I am an Honorary Member of the Royal Academy of Science in Sweden [see No. 338] and in Amsterdam, and that I have been presented with the Honorary Citizenship of Vienna.  A Dr. Spiecker lately took with him to Berlin my last Grand Symphony with Choruses; it is dedicated to the King, and I wrote the dedication