That his own mode of life helped largely to bring about this state of things, did not make it any easier to bear.  As stated, system was out of the question in this household.  There was no regular time for meals, often no meals were thought of by the master while occupied with his work.  When hungry, if nothing were forthcoming at home, he sought a restaurant.  Careless in general as regards his food, abstemious to a degree in this respect, he was particular only on one matter, his coffee.  He delighted in making it himself, often counting the beans that were required for each cup.

“My house resembles very much a shipwreck” is a remark attributed to him by Nohl.  Even under favoring conditions, discipline was not to be expected, but matters were further complicated by Karl’s mother, who made a practice of bribing the servants to get information about the young man.  There is no doubt her influence tended to increase the discomfort and disorder that would have existed in any event.  “Some devils of people have again played me such a trick that it is almost impossible for me to mix with human beings any more,” he said in a letter to Madame Streicher, which remark Mr. Kalischer (Neue Beethovenbriefe, Berlin, 1902), attributes to intrigues against him by his sister-in-law.

To illustrate the slight regard his servants had for Beethoven and their absolute ignorance of the value of his work, an incident related by Schindler about the loss of the manuscript of the Kyrie of the Mass in D is in point.  On reaching Doebling in 1821 on his annual summer migration, he missed this work and the most diligent search failed to bring it to light.  Finally the cook produced it; she had used the separate sheets for wrapping kitchen utensils.  Some of them were torn, but no part was lost.  No copy had yet been made, and its loss would have been irreparable.

The difficulties which he experienced with the world in general existed with his copyists and engravers to an exaggerated degree as may be supposed, since proofreading was a matter on which he was extremely particular.  He was apt to make unreasonable demands on them, not understanding human nature.  He wanted them to work quickly and accurately and they were very often slow and careless; they tried his patience more than his servants did.  A little deftness on his part when in contact with them, would have made things easier all around.  As it was, they received little consideration from him, and gave but little in return.  He was so deeply interested in his compositions that he frequently recalled them after they were in the engraver’s hands, in order to make alterations and additions.  The Sonata, opus 111 was withdrawn twice, after the engraver had actually begun work on it.  It had been sold to Diabelli, who finally refused to return it again, as the engraver’s work in each case was thrown away.  This called out a sarcastic letter from Beethoven to Schindler, in which he refers to Diabelli as an arch-churl (Erzflegel), and threatens him (Diabelli), if he is not more amenable.