FATHER.

N.B.  Send off the letter to-morrow (Wednesday).  I have heard nothing as yet of the knives, and my made pens also begin to fail.

440.

TO HIS NEPHEW.

Baden, August

MY DEAR SON,—­

I am in mortal anxiety about the Quartet—­namely, the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth parts, that Holz took away, while the first bars of the third movement have been left here; the number of these sheets is 13. I hear nothing of Holz. I wrote to him yesterday, and he is not usually remiss in writing.  What a sad business it will be if he has lost it!  He drinks hard, entre nous.  Tranquillize me on this point as quickly as possible.  You can find out Linke’s lodgings from Haslinger; he was here to-day and very friendly, and brought some of the sheets and other things, and begged hard for the new quartets.  Never interfere in this kind of business; it can only lead to what is unpleasant.  For Heaven’s sake pacify me about the Quartet—­a serious loss.  The sketch is only written on small fragments of paper, and I could not manage to write out the whole exactly from these.

Your attached

FATHER.

I must remind you that next Sunday and Monday are holidays, so that you may arrange accordingly.  On this occasion you could perhaps, when I come in, return with me here on Saturday evening, which would give you the whole of Sunday morning to yourself.

441.

TO ZMESKALL.

1825.

MY GOOD FRIEND,—­

I had scarcely got home when I bethought me of the stuff I may have written yesterday.  Give the enclosed to Kuhlau; you know all the rest.  Write to me as soon as possible, or come here, next Thursday being a holiday, but write beforehand.  Ask if the cook understands anything about game, that she may take the command of my game preserves for me.  As to Carl, it would be better for him to tell me about it at the Atrapper at Rosen.  All this prestissimo!  As for my friendship, think of me always as Cantum firmum.  Farewell!

Ever your friend,

BEETHOVEN.

442.

TO HERR FRIEDRICH KUHLAU.

Baden, September 3, 1825.

[Music:  Alto clef, B-flat major, 4/4 time. 
Kuhl nicht lau, nicht lau, Kuhl nicht lau, Kuh-lau nicht lau. 
Kuhl nicht lau, Kuhl nicht lau, nicht lau. 
Kuhl nicht lau, Kuhl nicht lau, Kuhl nicht lau.]

I must admit that the champagne went a little to my head yesterday, and I learned once more from experience, that such things rather prostrate than promote my energies; for, though able to respond fluently at the moment, still I can no longer recall what I wrote yesterday.

Sometimes bear in mind your attached

BEETHOVEN.

443.

TO HIS NEPHEW.

September 6, 1825.

MY DEAR SON,—­

I see perfectly well how troublesome it would be for you all to come here; we must therefore make an appointment to meet every Friday at Schlesinger’s, when I will come to town; for, in case any thing goes amiss, I must be present.  This is the best plan, and settles the affair.  He was here yesterday, and said that he would pay for the Quintet as soon as you sent it to him.