and much has taken place for which he has asked my forgiveness.  The solicitor has also given up his office, because, having interested himself in the good cause, he has been loudly accused of partiality.  Thus these endless perplexities go on, and no help, no consolation!  The whole fabric that I had reared now blown away as if by the wind!  A pupil of Pestalozzi, at present an inmate of the Institute where I have placed my nephew, seems to think that it will be a difficult matter for him and for my poor Carl to attain any desirable goal.  But he is also of opinion that the most advisable step is the removal of my nephew to a foreign country!  I hope that the health of Y.R.H., always so interesting to me, leaves nothing to be desired, and I look forward with pleasure to soon being with Y.R.H., that I may be enabled to prove my anxiety to serve you.

[K.]

267.

TO THE ARCHDUKE RUDOLPH.

1819.

May I beg the favor of Y.R.H. to inform H.R.H.  Archduke Ludwig of the following circumstances.  Y.R.H. no doubt remembers my mentioning the necessary removal of my nephew from here, on account of his mother.  My intention was to present a petition to H.R.H.  Archduke Ludwig on the subject; no difficulties however have hitherto arisen on the subject, as all the authorities concerned are in my favor.  Among the chief of these are the College of Privy Councillors, the Court of Guardians, and the guardian himself, who all entirely agree with me in thinking that nothing can be more conducive to the welfare of my nephew than being kept at the greatest possible distance from his mother; moreover, all is admirably arranged for the education of my nephew in Landshut, as the estimable and renowned Professor Sailer is to superintend everything connected with the studies of the youth, and I have also some relations there, so no doubt the most desirable results may be thus attained for my nephew.  Having, as I already said, as yet encountered no obstacles, I had no wish whatever to trouble H.R.H. the Archduke Ludwig, but I now understand that the mother of my nephew intends to demand an audience from H.R.H. in order to oppose my scheme.  She will not scruple to utter all sorts of calumnies against me, but I trust these can be easily refuted by my well known and acknowledged moral character, and I can fearlessly appeal to Y.R.H. for a testimony on this point for the satisfaction of H.R.H.  Archduke Ludwig.  As for the conduct of the mother of my nephew, it is easily to be inferred from the fact of her having been declared by the Court wholly incapable of undertaking the guardianship of her son.  All that she plotted in order to ruin her poor child can only be credited from her own depravity, and thence arises the unanimous agreement about this affair, and the boy being entirely withdrawn from her influence.  Such is the natural and unnatural state of the case.  I therefore beg Y.R.H. to intercede