othing to be desired, and I look forward with pleasure to soon
being with Y.R.H., that I may be enabled to prove my anxiety to serve you.

[K.]

267.

TO THE ARCHDUKE RUDOLPH.

1819.

May I beg the favor of Y.R.H. to inform H.R.H. Archduke Ludwig of the
following circumstances. Y.R.H. no doubt remembers my mentioning the
necessary removal of my nephew from here, on account of his mother. My
intention was to present a petition to H.R.H. Archduke Ludwig on the
subject; no difficulties however have hitherto arisen on the subject, as
all the authorities concerned are in my favor. Among the chief of these are
the College of Privy Councillors, the Court of Guardians, and the guardian
himself, who all entirely agree with me in thinking that nothing can be
more conducive to the welfare of my nephew than being kept at the greatest
possible distance from his mother; moreover, all is admirably arranged for
the education of my nephew in Landshut, as the estimable and renowned
Professor Sailer is to superintend everything connected with the studies of
the youth, and I have also some relations there, so no doubt the most
desirable results may be thus attained for my nephew. Having, as I already
said, as yet encountered no obstacles, I had no wish whatever to trouble
H.R.H. the Archduke Ludwig, but I now understand that the mother of my
nephew intends to demand an audience from H.R.H. in order to _oppose_ my
scheme. She will not scruple to utter all sorts of _calumnies against me_,
but I trust these can be easily refuted by my well known and acknowledged
moral character, and I can fearlessly appeal to Y.R.H. for a testimony on
this point for the satisfaction of H.R.H. Archduke Ludwig. As for the
conduct of the mother of my nephew, it is easily to be inferred from the
fact of her having been declared by the Court wholly incapable of
undertaking the guardianship of her son. All that she _plotted_ in order to
ruin her poor child can only be credited from her own depravity, and thence
arises the _unanimous agreement_ about this affair, and the boy being
entirely withdrawn from her influence. Such is the natural and unnatural
state of the case. I therefore beg Y.R.H. to intercede with H.R.H. Archduke
Ludwig, and to warn him against listening to the slanders of the mother,
who would plunge her child into an abyss whence he could never be rescued.
That sense of justice which guides every party in our just Austrian land,
does not entir