It will be enough if they play the new one only, but you can judge what is best.  If they prefer Thursday, I can be present then.  Only see that they come to an arrangement as quickly as possible, so that the money may be transmitted to Peters in Leipzig, to whom, however, you must on no account allude.  Schlesinger scarcely expects to be still in Vienna on Sunday; haste is therefore necessary.  The ducats must be in gold; mention, as a precedent, that others do this.

Be sure to write to me by the old woman to-day.  All I want is a rehearsal, to see whether corrections are required.  Make no delays, and take care that the old woman sets off in good time.  The best plan would be to fix where I am to come to in town every Friday for rehearsals.  If Schlesinger has brought you the Quartet (the first), pray stand on no ceremony, for it is clear he means to pay.

Your letter has this moment come.  So Holz is not to be here till Thursday, and who can tell whether even this is certain?  Your letter changes everything, as Friday is now decided on.  Holz can inform me whether we meet here or in Vienna.  Our main point now is with Schlesinger, for we must delay no longer.  If he is only waiting for the rehearsal, he certainly shall not have it.  He said yesterday that he would not publish the quartets here; I told him it was a matter of entire indifference to me.  May God bless you and keep you!

Your attached

FATHER.

444.

TO HIS NEPHEW.

September.

MY DEAR SON,—­

Do not forget to give Tobias [Haslinger] the receipt together with the money.  The gentleman ought to have come a little sooner; but as the affair stands, you must do as he advises.  I do not wish now that you should come to me on the 19th of September.  It is better to finish your studies.  God has never yet forsaken me, and no doubt some one will be found to close my eyes.  The whole thing seems to me to have been some artful collusion, in which my brother (pseudo) has played a part.  I also know that you have no pleasure now in coming to me—­which is only natural, for my atmosphere is too pure for you.  Last Sunday you again borrowed 1 florin 15 kreutzers from the housekeeper, from a mean old kitchen wench,—­this was already forbidden,—­and it is the same in all things.  I could have gone on wearing the out-of-doors coat for two years—­to be sure I have the shabby custom of putting on an old coat at home—­but Herr Carl!  What a disgrace it would be! and why should he do so?  Herr Ludwig van Beethoven’s money-bags are expressly for this purpose.

You had better not come next Sunday, for true harmony and concord can never exist with conduct such as yours.  Why such hypocrisy?  Avoid it, and you will then become a better man, and not require to be deceitful nor untruthful, which will eventually benefit your moral character.  Such is the impression you have made on my mind—­for what avail even the most gentle reproofs?  They merely serve to embitter you.  But do not be uneasy; I shall continue to care for you as much as ever. What feelings were aroused in me when I again found a florin and 15 kreutzers charged in the bill!