My Dear Sir!
Rode was certainly right in everything he said about me – My health is not of the best – and, moreover, through no fault of mine, my circumstances on the whole happen to be the most unfavourable I have ever had to face – But I need hardly remind you that neither that nor anything else in the world will prevent me from assisting, so far as possible, with my mediocre talent your Convent Ladies who are also such innocent sufferers –
Hence two perfectly new symphonies [Opus 92, 93] are at their service, and also an aria for bass voice with chorus [of Opus 113] and, in addition, several separate small choral works. Further, if they would like to have the overture to ‘Ungarns Wohltäter [Opus 117 Overture], which they already performed last year, it is at their disposal. And the overture to the ‘Ruinen on Athen’ [Opus 113 Overture], which, however, is in a somewhat simpler style, is also at their disposal – Among the choral works there is a Dervish chorus, a good signboard to attract a mixed public. – But in my opinion their best plan would be to choose a day when they could perform the oratorio ‘Christus am Ölberg’ [Opus 85]. Since its first production it has been performed in a great many places. This oratorio could fill up the first half of the concert; and in the second half the ladies could perform a new symphony, the overtures and various choral works and also the aforesaid aria for bass voice with chorus – In this way the evening would not lack variety. However, you had better arrange this with your local musical advisers – When you mention a reward for me from a third person, I believe I can guess who that third person is. [Anderson footnote: “This was Louis Bonaparte (1779-1846) who, after acting as aide-de-camp to Napoleon during the latter’s Italian campaign, was made King of Holland in 1806. He abdicated, however, in 1810 and as Comte de St. Leu lived at Graz until 1813 when he settled in Italy.”] If I were in my usual circumstances, then I would say at once, ‘Beethoven never accepts any money, when it is a question of promoting the welfare of humanity’. But finding myself at the present moment, precisely owing to my great generosity, in a position which, it is true, by reason of its very cause cannot make me feel ashamed, true, by reason of its very cause cannot make me feel ashamed, and in view of many other factors created by people devoid of honour and loyalty, well, I tell you frankly that I should not refuse a reward from a wealthy third person – But to request such a reward is quite out of the question; and if nothing comes of all these dealings with a third person, please rest assured that even now without the slightest remuneration I am just as willing to do a good action to the best of my ability for my friends the Reverend Ladies as I was last year and as I shall always be for suffering humanity in general, as long as I live – And now all good wishes. Write soon and with the greatest zeal I will arrange to send what is required. – My best wishes to the Convent –
With kindest regards, your friend
Ludwig van Beethoven