His exceptional capacity, and partly also his peculiarities, call for exceptional measures; and I never did a more beneficial or magnanimous act than when I took my nephew to myself and personally assumed charge of his education. Seeing that (according to Plutarch) a Philip did not think it beneath his dignity to direct the education of his son Alexander and give him the great Aristotle for a teacher because he did not consider the ordinary teachers suitable, and a Laudon looked after the education of his son _himself_, why should not such beautiful and sublime examples be followed by others? Already during his lifetime his father entrusted my nephew to me and I confess that I feel myself better fitted than anybody else _to incite my nephew to virtue and industry by my own example_. Had the mother been able to subdue her wicked disposition and permitted my plans to take their quiet development a very favorable result would have followed; but when a _mother of this sort_ seeks to involve her child in the secrets of her own vulgar and evil surroundings, and in his tender years (a plague for children!!!) leads aim astray to deception, to bribery of my servants, to _untruthfulness_, by _laughing at him_ when he tells the truth, yes, even _giving him money_ to awaken in him lusts and desires which are harmful, tells him that things are trifles which _in me and others would be accounted_ grave faults, the already difficult task becomes more difficult and dangerous. Gifts of fortune may be acquired; morality must be _implanted_ early, particularly when a child has had the misfortune to suck in such _mother’s milk_, was in her care for several years, was put to thoroughly bad uses, even had to help _deceive_ his father. Furthermore he will _inherit from me_ and even now I could leave him enough to _keep him from want_ while continuing his studies until he should receive an appointment. We need only _quiet and no more interference_ from the mother, and the beautiful goal which I have set will be attained. Ought I now to reply to the intrigues of a Mr. Courtscrivener Hotschowa [Hotschevar] against me, or to the _priest of Mödling_, who is despised by his congregation, who is suspected of being guilty of _illicit intercourse_, who lays his pupils military fashion on a form to be thrashed and could not forgive me because I kept watch on him and would not permit my nephew to be caned like a _brute_--ought I? No; the association of these men with Madame van Beethoven _bears witness_ against them both, and _only such_ could make _common cause_ with Madame van Beethoven _against me_. Beethoven accompanied this address with a private letter presumably to Dr. Tschiska (or Tschischka), an official of the Magistracy, in which he said: