s, most probably, the day after
to-morrow.

No. 3--I mean the enclosed note--is from a musical friend in Silesia, not a
rich man, for whom I have frequently had my scores written out. He wishes
to have these works of Mozart in his library; as my servant, however, has
the good fortune, by the grace of God, to be one of the greatest blockheads
in the world (which is saying a good deal), I cannot make use of him for
this purpose. Be so kind therefore as to send to Herr ---- (for the
_Generalissimus_ can have no dealings with a petty tradesman), and desire
him to _write down the price of each work_ and send it to me with my two
scores in A, and also an answer to my injunction about Ertmann, as early
to-day as you can (_presto, prestissimo_!)--_nota bene_, the _finale_ to be
_a march in double-quick time_. I recommend the best execution of these
orders, so that no further obstacle may intervene to my recovery.

L. VAN BEETHOVEN,

The best _generalissimus_ for the good,
But the devil himself for the bad!

217.

TO STEINER.

The Lieutenant-General is requested to send his _Diabolum_, that I may tell
him myself my opinion of the "Battle," which is _printed in the vilest
manner_. There is much to be altered.

THE G----S.

218.

TO TOBIAS HASLINGER.

MY GOOD ADJUTANT,--

Best of all little fellows! Do see again about that house, and get it for
me. I am very anxious also to procure _the treatise on education_. It is of
some importance to me to be able to compare my own opinions on this subject
with those of others, and thus still further improve them. As for our
juvenile Adjutant, I think I shall soon have hit on the right system for
his education. Your

CONTRA FA,

_Manu propria._

219.

TO THE HIGH-BORN HERR HASLINGER, HONORARY MEMBER OF THE HOeFEN GRABENS AND
PATER NOSTER GAeSSCHEN.

BEST OF ALL PRINTERS AND ENGRAVERS,--

Be kinder than kind, and throw off a hundred impressions of the
accompanying small plate.[1] I will repay you threefold and fourfold.
Farewell!

Your

BEETHOVEN.

[Footnote 1: This is possibly the humorous visiting-card that Beethoven
sometimes sent to his friends, with the inscription _Wir bleiben die Alten_
("We are the same as ever"), and on reversing the card, a couple of asses
stared them in the face! Frau Eyloff told me of a similar card that her
brother Schindler once got from Beethoven on a New Year's day.]

220.

TO BARONESS DOROTHEA VON ERTMANN.[1]

Feb