The Life of Ludwig van Beethoven, Volume IIThayer, Alexander Wheelock
History
The Life of Ludwig van Beethoven, Volume II
Thayer, Alexander Wheelock
Beethoven, Ludwig van, 1770-1827
Yesterday I had an exhaustive talk with Prince v. Kinsky.
Accompanied by expressions of highest praise for Beethoven, he
complied at once with his request and from now on will send him
notes of redemption and will pay the arrears and the future sums
in this currency. The cashier here will receive the necessary
instructions and Beethoven can collect everything here when he
passes through, or if he prefers in Vienna as soon as the Prince
shall have returned.
Prague, July 9, 1812.[112]
[Sidenote: APPEALS TO PRINCE KINSKY’S HEIRS]
Continuing, Beethoven tells the Princess of his visit to Kinsky,
who confirmed the statements in the letter and paid 60 ducats on
account--as the equivalent of 600 florins, Vienna Standard. It was
agreed that the arrears should be paid when the Prince should come to
Vienna and instructions be given to his agents. Beethoven’s illness
kept him at Teplitz longer than he had expected. Nevertheless, through
Oliva he reminded the Prince, then in Vienna, in December of his
promises, who again confirmed them and added that he would arrange
matters at his exchequer in a few days. After the departure of the
Prince with his family he had made inquiries and learned to his
astonishment that nothing had been done in the matter. In conclusion he
expressed the conviction that the heirs of the noble Prince would act
in the spirit of magnanimity which had inspired him and pay the arrears
and give directions for the future payments in notes of redemption.
In the second letter he repeats the request, having learned first from
the Prince’s representatives that nothing could be done in the matter
until a guardian had been appointed, which office had been assumed by
Her Highness. “You will easily see,” he continues,
how painful it is to be deprived so long of money which had been
counted on, the more since I am obliged wholly to support an
unfortunate sick brother and his family and have inconsiderately
exhausted my resources, hoping by the collection of my salary to
care for my own livelihood. The complete righteousness of my claims
you may see in the fact that I faithfully reported the receipt of
the 60 ducats which the Prince of blessed memory paid me on account
in Prague, although the princely council told me that I might have
concealed the fact, as the Prince had not told him, the councillor,
or his cashier anything about it.
The third letter, dated February 12, 1813, again urges the duty of the
heirs to carry out the intentions of the Prince and formulates his
petition as follows:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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