[Music:  Bass clef, C major, 3/4 time.  Wir ir-ren al-le Samt, Nur je-der ir-ret an-derst.]

As ever, your friend,

BEETHOVEN.

[Footnote 1:  Here Beethoven’s own writing begins.  The slight indisposition that he mentions, in the course of a few days became a serious illness, the result of which was dropsy, and from this the maestro was doomed never to recover.  Indeed from that time he never again left his bed.]

463.

TO DR. BACH.[1]

Vienna, Wednesday, Jan. 3, 1827.

MY RESPECTED FRIEND,—­

I hereby declare, at my decease, my beloved nephew, Carl van Beethoven, sole heir of all my property, and of seven bank shares in particular, as well as any ready money I may be possessed of.  If the law prescribes any modifications in this matter, pray endeavor to regulate these as much as possible to his advantage.

I appoint you his curator, and beg that, together with Hofrath Breuning, his guardian, you will supply the place of a father to him.

God bless you!  A thousand thanks for all the love and friendship you have shown towards me.

LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN.

[Footnote 1:  The signature alone is in Beethoven’s writing.]

464.

TO WEGELER.

Vienna, February 17, 1827.

MY OLD AND WORTHY FRIEND,—­

I received your second letter safely through Breuning.  I am still too feeble to answer it, but you may be assured that its contents were most welcome and agreeable to me.[1] My convalescence, if indeed I may call it such, makes very slow progress, and there is reason to suspect that a fourth operation will be necessary, although the medical men have not as yet decided on this.  I arm myself with patience, and reflect that all evil leads to some good.  I am quite surprised to find from your last letter that you had not received mine.  From this one you will see that I wrote to you on the 10th of December last.  It is the same with the portrait, as you will perceive from the date, when you get it.  “Frau Steffen spake the word:”  Michael Steffen insisted on sending them by some private hand; so they have been lying here until this very day, and really it was a hard matter to get them back even now.  You will receive the portrait by the post, through the Messrs. Schott, who have also sent you the music.

How much is there that I would fain say to you to-day; but I am too weak,[2] so I can only embrace you and your Lorchen in spirit.  With true friendship and attachment to you and yours,

Your old and faithful friend,

BEETHOVEN.

[Footnote 1:  Wegeler had reminded him of Blumenauer, who, after being operated on for dropsy, lived for many years in perfect health.  He at the same time suggested to him the plan of going with him in the ensuing summer to one of the Bohemian baths, proposing to travel by a circuitous route to the Upper Rhine, and from thence to Coblenz.]