soon to hear good news from you,
not in _allegro_ time, but _veloce prestissimo_.

This letter will be given to you by an intelligent Englishman; they are
generally very able fellows, with whom I should like to pass some time in
their own country.

_Prestissimo--Responsio
De suo amico e Maestro,_

BEETHOVEN.

[Footnote 1: In Schindler's _Beethoven's Nachlass_ there is a large
calendar of the years 1819 used by Beethoven, in which he has marked,
"Arrived at Moedling May 12!!!--_miser sum pauper_." Carl too was again ill
at that time. Beethoven took him to Bloechlinger's Institution, June 22.]

265.

TO THE ARCHDUKE RUDOLPH.

1819.

I learned with deep sorrow of your being again unwell; I trust it will only
be a passing indisposition. No doubt our very variable spring is the cause
of this. I intended to have brought the variations [see No. 259] yesterday;
they may well boldly face the light of day, and no doubt Y.R.H. will
receive an application for your consent on this point. I very much regret
being only able to express a _pia desideria_ for Y.R.H's. health. I
earnestly hope the skill of your Aesculapius may at length gain the victory
and procure permanent health for Y.R.H.

[K.]

266.

TO THE ARCHDUKE RUDOLPH.

Moedling, July 15, 1819.

I have been very ill since my last visit to Y.R.H. in town; I hope however
to be much better by next week, in which case I will instantly join Y.R.H.
at Baden. Meanwhile I went several times to town to consult my physician.
My continued distress about my nephew, whose moral character has been
almost totally ruined, has been the main cause of my illness. At the
beginning of this week I was obliged to resume my guardianship, the other
guardian having resigned, and much has taken place for which he has asked
my forgiveness. The solicitor has also given up his office, because, having
interested himself in the good cause, he has been loudly accused of
partiality. Thus these endless perplexities go on, and no help, no
consolation! The whole fabric that I had reared now blown away as if by the
wind! A pupil of Pestalozzi, at present an inmate of the Institute where I
have placed my nephew, seems to think that it will be a difficult matter
for him and for my poor Carl to attain any desirable goal. But he is also
of opinion that the most advisable step is the removal of my nephew to a
foreign country! I hope that the health of Y.R.H., always so interesting to
me, leaves n