o you. I have another
favor to ask of Y.R.H., which I hope you will graciously accede. Will
Y.R.H. be so kind as to grant me a testimonial to the following effect:
"That I wrote the Grand Mass expressly for Y.R.H.; that it has been for
some time in your possession; and that you have been pleased to permit me
to circulate it." This ought to have been the case, and being no untruth, I
hope I may claim this favor. Such a testimonial will be of great service to
me; for how could I have believed that my slight talents would have exposed
me to so much envy, persecution, and calumny. It has always been my
intention to ask Y.R.H.'s permission to circulate the Mass, but the
pressure of circumstances, and above all my inexperience in worldly
matters, as well as my feeble health, has caused this confusion.

If the Mass is engraved hereafter, I hope to dedicate it to Y.R.H. when
published,[1] and not till then will the limited list of royal subscribers
appear. I shall ever consider Y.R.H. as my most illustrious patron, and
make this known to the world whenever it is in my power. In conclusion, I
entreat you again not to refuse my request about the testimonial. It will
only cost Y.R.H. a few lines, and ensure the best results for me.

I will bring the Variations[2] of Y.R.H. with me. They require little
alteration, and cannot fail to become a very pretty pleasing work for all
lovers of music. I must indeed appear a most importunate suitor. I beg you
will kindly send me the testimonial as soon as possible, for I require it.

[K.]

[Footnote 1: The Grand Mass (_Op._ 123) was published in 1827.]

[Footnote 2: The _Variations_ composed by the Archduke Rudolph, mentioned
in the letters 345 and 351, are not the same as the published ones, and are
unknown.]

346.

TO F. RIES.

Hetzendorf, July 16, 1823.

MY DEAR RIES,--

I received your letter with much pleasure the day before yesterday. The
Variations have, no doubt, arrived by this time. I could not write the
dedication to your wife, not knowing her name; so I beg you will write it
yourself on the part of your wife's friend and your own; let it be a
surprise to her, for the fair sex like that.--_Entre nous_, surprise is
always the greatest charm of the beautiful! As for the _Allegri di
Bravura_, I must make allowance for yours. To tell you the truth, I am no
great friend to that kind of thing, as it is apt to entail too much mere
mechanism; at least, such is the case with t