ent you return to town.

[K.]

250.

TO G. DEL RIO

Vienna, Nov. 12, 1817.

My altered circumstances render it possible that I may not be able to leave
Carl under your care beyond the end of this quarter; so, as in duty bound,
I give you this _warning_ a quarter in advance. Though it is painful to
admit it, my straitened circumstances leave me no choice in the matter; had
it been otherwise, how gladly would I have presented you with an additional
quarter's payment when I removed Carl, as a slight tribute of my gratitude.
I do hope you will believe that such are my _genuine and sincere_ wishes on
the subject. If on the other hand I leave Carl with you for the ensuing
quarter, commencing in February, I will apprise you of it early in January,
1818. I trust you will grant me this _favor_, and that I shall not solicit
it in vain. If I ever enjoy better health, so that I can _earn more money_,
I shall not fail to evince my gratitude, knowing well how much more you
have done for Carl than I had any right to expect; and I can with truth say
that to be obliged to confess my inability to requite your services at this
moment, distresses me much.

I am, with sincere esteem, your friend,

L. V. BEETHOVEN.

251.

TO G. DEL RIO.

MY DEAR FRIEND,--

I have been hitherto unable to answer your friendly letter, having been
much occupied and still far from well.

As to your proposal, it merits both gratitude and consideration. I must say
that the same idea formerly occurred to me about Carl; at this moment,
however, I am in the most unsettled state. This was why I made the
stipulation to which I begged you to agree, namely, to let you know in the
last month of the present quarter whether Carl was to continue with you. In
this way our plans would neither be hurried nor demolished. I am, besides,
well aware that it can be no advantage to you to have Carl either on his
present terms, or according to your last proposal, and on that very account
I wished to point out to you in my letter how gladly, besides the usual
remuneration, I would have testified my gratitude in some additional
manner.

When I spoke of my _inability_, I knew that his education would cost me
even more elsewhere than with you; but what I intended to convey was that
every father has a particular object in the education of his child, and it
is thus with me and Carl. No doubt we shall soon discover what is best for
him; whether to have a tutor here, or t