[Footnote 1:  Franz Schoberlechner, pianist in Vienna, wrote to Beethoven on June 25, 1823, to ask him for letters of introduction to Leipzig, Dresden, Berlin, and Russia, etc.  The maestro, however, wrote across the letter, “An active fellow requires no other recommendation than from one respectable family to another,” and gave it back to Schindler, who showed it to Schoberlechner, and no doubt at his desire urged Beethoven to comply with his request.  Beethoven, however, did not know Schoberlechner, and had no very high opinion of him, as he played chiefly bravura pieces, and, besides, on the bills of his concerts, he pompously paraded all his titles, decorations, and as member of various societies, which gave ample subject for many a sarcastic remark on the part of Beethoven.]

336.

TO THE ARCHDUKE RUDOLPH.

Vienna, June 1, 1823.

I have been always ailing since Y.R.H. left this, and latterly afflicted by severe inflammation of the eyes, which has now in so far subsided that for the last eight days I have been able once more to use my sight, though very sparingly.  Y.R.H. will perceive from the enclosed receipt of June 27, the dispatch of some music.  As Y.R.H. seemed to take pleasure in the C minor Sonata,[1] I thought I did not take too much on myself by surprising Y.R.H. with the dedication.  The Variations[2] have been written out for at least five or six weeks past, but the state of my eyes did not permit me to revise them thoroughly myself.  My hope of being entirely restored proved vain.  At last I made Schlemmer look them over, so, though they may not look very neat, still they are correct.  The C minor Sonata was engraved in Paris in a very faulty manner, and being engraved here from that copy, I tried to make it as correct as possible.  I intend shortly to send you a beautifully engraved copy of the Variations.  With regard to the Mass[3] that Y.R.H. wished should be more generally known, my continued bad health for some years past, causing me to incur heavy debts, and compelling me to give up my intention of going to England, induced me to ponder on some mode of improving my condition.  This Mass seemed well adapted to my purpose.  I was advised to offer it to different courts.  Painful as this was to me, I felt that I should have cause for self-reproach if I neglected doing so.  I therefore applied to various courts to subscribe to the Mass, fixing the price at fifty ducats; the general opinion being that this was not too much, and if there were a good many subscribers, the scheme would not be unprofitable.  Hitherto the subscription is indeed flattering to me, as their Majesties of France and Prussia have each taken a copy.  I also received a letter from my friend Prince Nicolaus Gallizin a few days ago, from Petersburg, in which this most amiable Prince mentions that H.M. the Emperor of Russia had become a subscriber, and that I should soon hear further on the subject from the Imperial Russian Embassy.