It is well known that Beethoven’s duties to Archduke Rudolph soon became irksome and at last almost insupportable. It was, however, for his good that he was compelled to perform them and be master of himself to that extent; it was also fortunate that Elizabeth Brentano came just at the crisis with beauty, grace and genius to turn his thoughts into other channels. Nor was it without benefit to him that Thomson’s melodies, which required no severe study, gave some desultory but profitable employment to his mind. Just at the close of the year it was rumored that he contemplated a journey into Italy “next spring, in order to seek restoration of his health, which had suffered greatly for several years, under southern skies.” There was some foundation for this, for some years later Beethoven himself states in one of his letters: “I declined a call to Naples.” [Sidenote: WORKS PUBLISHED IN 1810] The compositions of the year 1810 are: 1. The incidental music to Goethe’s “Egmont.” It was composed between October, 1809 and May, 1810, and the first performance took place on the 24th day of the latter month. There are sketches for the song “Freudvoll und Leidvoll” in a sketchbook used in 1809; but Nottebohm does not recognize them as having been conceived for use in the tragedy, since there are indications that the song was to have pianoforte accompaniment and be sung in part by two voices. In a sketchbook begun early in January, 1810 (Nottebohm, “Zweite Beethoveniana,” p. 276), on the first twenty-nine pages there are sketches for seven numbers in the following order, viz: 7, 1, 8, 9, 2, 3, 6. Sketches for the overture are not to be found in the book, but in other places in connection with sketches for the Pianoforte Trio in B-flat, Op. 97, which was also in hand in 1809. Beethoven’s admiration for Goethe (stimulated, it is fair to assume, by his intercourse with Elizabeth Brentano) is shown by the fact that, besides the “Egmont” lyrics, others of Goethe’s poems were sketched or completed in the year which saw the production of the tragedy. “Egmont” was first performed on May 24, 1810. Though Beethoven contemplated dedicating it to Archduke Rudolph, it eventually appeared without a dedication. Beethoven offered the music to Breitkopf and Härtel in a letter dated May 6 (1810) for 1400 florins in silver. 2. Two songs: “Kennst du das Land” and “Herz, mein Herz.” 3. Three songs: “Wonne der Wehmuth,” “Sehnsucht,” and “Mit einem gemalten Bande.” The manuscript bears the following inscription in Beethoven’s hand: “3 Gesänge--1810--Poesie von Goethe in Musik gesetzt von Ludwig van Beethoven.” 4. Forty-three Irish melodies, with ritornellos and accompaniments for pianoforte, violin and violoncello (completed). 5. Écossaise for military band. 6. Polonaise for military band.