_thief_, I cannot doubt--he must be sent away; my health
requires living _at home_ and greater comfort. I shall be glad to have your
opinion on this point. If my condition is not altered, instead of being in
London I shall probably be in my grave. I thank God that the thread of my
life will soon be spun out.

In haste, your

BEETHOVEN.

N.B. I wish you to buy me a quarter of a yard of green wax-cloth, green on
both sides. It seems incredible that I have not been able to get anything
of the kind from these _green_ people here. It is far.... [illegible].

[X. brought the Trio in C minor (Op. 1, No. 3) to show to Beethoven, having
arranged it as a quintet for stringed instruments (published by Artaria as
Op. 104). Beethoven evidently discovered a good many faults in the work;
still, the undertaking had sufficient attractions to induce him to correct
it himself, and to make many changes in it. A very different score was thus
of course produced from that of X., on the cover of whose work the genial
master, in a fit of good humor, inscribed with his own hand the following
title:--

A Terzet arranged as a Quintet,
by _Mr. Well-meaning_,

translated from the semblance into the reality of five parts, and exalted
from the depths of wretchedness to a certain degree of excellence,

by _Mr. Goodwill_.

Vienna, Aug. 14, 1817.

N.B. The original three-part score of the Quintet has been sacrificed as a
solemn burnt-offering to the subterranean gods.][1]

[Footnote 1: This Quintet appeared as Op. 104 at Artaria's in Vienna.]

239.

TO FRAU VON STREICHER.

When we next meet, you will be surprised to hear what I have in the mean
time learned. My poor Carl was only misled for the moment; but there are
men who are brutes, and of this number is the priest here, who deserves to
be well cudgelled.

240.

TO G. DEL RIO.

August 19, 1817.

I unluckily received your letter yesterday too late, for she had already
been here; otherwise I would have shown her to the door, as she richly
deserved. I sincerely thank Fraulein N. for the trouble she took in writing
down the gossip of this woman. Though an enemy to all tattling and gossip,
still this is of importance to us; so I shall write to her, and also give
her letter to me to Herr A.S. [Advocate Schoenauer?] I may possibly have let
fall some words in her presence in reference to the recent occurrence, and
the irregularity on your part, but I cannot in the slightest degree r