y, as I knew nothing
about it, so that Carl probably must otherwise have remained at Czerny's.
Carl's boots are too small, and he has repeatedly complained of this;
indeed, they are so bad that he can scarcely walk, and it will take some
time before they can be altered to fit him. This kind of thing ruins the
feet, so I beg you will not allow him to wear them again till they are made
larger.

With regard to his pianoforte studies, I beg you will keep him strictly to
them; otherwise his music-master would be of no use. Yesterday Carl could
not play the whole day, I have repeatedly wished to hear him play over his
lessons, but have been obliged to come away without doing so.

"_La musica merita d'esser studiata._"

Besides, the couple of hours now appointed for his music lessons are quite
insufficient. I must therefore the more earnestly urge on you their being
strictly adhered to. It is by no means unusual that this point should be
attended to in an institute; an intimate friend of mine has also a boy at
school, who is to become a professor of music, where every facility for
study is afforded him; indeed, I was rather struck by finding the boy quite
alone in a distant room practising, neither disturbing others, nor being
himself disturbed.

I beg you will allow me to send for Carl to-morrow about half-past ten
o'clock, as I wish to see what progress he has made, and to take him with
me to some musicians.

I am, with all possible esteem, your friend,

L. VAN BEETHOVEN.

228.

TO CZERNY.

DEAR CZERNY,--

I beg you will treat Carl with as much patience as possible; for though he
does not as yet get on quite as you and I could wish, still I fear he will
soon do even less, because (though I do not want him to know it) he is
over-fatigued by the injudicious distribution of his lesson hours.
Unluckily it is not easy to alter this; so pray, however strict you may be,
show him every indulgence, which will, I am sure, have also a better effect
on Carl under such unfavorable circumstances.

With respect to his playing with you, when he has finally acquired the
proper mode of fingering, and plays in right time, and gives the notes with
tolerable correctness, you must only then first direct his attention to the
mode of execution; and when he is sufficiently advanced, do not stop his
playing on account of little mistakes, but only point them out at the end
of the piece. Although I have myself given very little instru