ed
his well-known misfortunes as to his salary and guardianship we cannot
discover.]

154.

TO THE ARCHDUKE RUDOLPH.

1815.

You must almost think my illness a mere fiction, but that is assuredly not
the case. I am obliged always to come home early in the evening. The first
time that Y.R.H. was graciously pleased to send for me, I came home
immediately afterwards, but feeling much better since then, I made an
attempt the evening before last to stay out a little later. If Y.R.H. does
not countermand me, I intend to have the honor of waiting on you this
evening at five o'clock. I will bring the new Sonata with me, merely for
to-day, for it is so soon to be engraved that it is not worth while to have
it written out.

[K.]

155.

TO THE ARCHDUKE RUDOLPH.

1815.

I intended to have given you this letter myself, but my personal attendance
might possibly be an intrusion; so I take the liberty once more to urge on
Y.R.H. the request it contains. I should also be glad if Y.R.H. would send
me back my last MS. Sonata, for as I _must_ publish it, it would be labor
lost to have it transcribed, and I shall soon have the pleasure of
presenting it to you engraved. I will call again in a few days. I trust
these joyous times may have a happy influence on your precious health.

[K.]

156.

TO THE ARCHDUKE RUDOLPH.

Vienna, July 23, 1815.

When you were recently in town, the enclosed Chorus[1] occurred to me. I
hurried home to write it down, but was detained longer in doing so than I
at first expected, and thus, to my great sorrow, I missed Y.R.H. The bad
custom I have followed from childhood, instantly to write down my first
thoughts, otherwise they not unfrequently go astray, has been an injury to
me on this occasion. I therefore send Y.R.H. my impeachment and my
justification, and trust I may find grace in your eyes. I hope soon to
present myself before Y.R.H., and to inquire after a health so precious to
us all.

[K.]

[Footnote 1: In 1815 the Chorus of _Die Meeresstille_ was composed by
Beethoven. Was this the chorus which occurred to him? The style of the
letter leaves his meaning quite obscure.]

157.

TO THE ARCHDUKE RUDOLPH.

1815.

It is neither presumption, nor the pretension of advocating any one's
cause, still less from the wish of arrogating to myself the enjoyment of
any especial favor with Y.R.H., that induces me to make a suggestion which
is in itself very simple. Old Kraft[1] was wi