l_ one! I am contented; still, I think an infusion of the
spiritual would be quite appropriate in such a mass. I have no objections
to H. v. Bernard, but you must pay him; I do not speak of myself. As you
call yourselves "Friends of Music," it is only natural that you should
expect a great deal to be done on the score of friendship.

Now farewell, my good Hauschka! As for myself, I wander about here with
music paper, among the hills and dales and valleys, and scribble a great
deal to get my daily bread; for I have brought things to such a pass in
this mighty and ignominious _land of the Goths and Vandals_, that in order
to gain time for a great composition, I must always previously _scrawl
away_ a good deal for the sake of money, to enable me to complete an
important work.

However, my health is much improved, and if the matter is urgent, I can do
as you wish now.

In haste, your friend,

BEETHOVEN.

[Footnote 1: Hauschka was at that time on the committee, and agent for the
"Friends to Music" who commissioned Beethoven to write an Oratorio in 1815.
Schindler is of opinion that the repeated performance of the Abbe Stadler's
heroic Oratorio, _Die Befreiung von Jerusalem_, was the cause of the
Society in 1818 bespeaking, through Hauschka, "An oratorio of the heroic
order."]

258.

TO THE ARCHDUKE RUDOLPH.

1819.

I have the honor to send the masterly variations[1] of Y.R.H. by the
copyist Schlemmer, and to-morrow I shall come in person to wait upon
Y.R.H., and much rejoice at being able to serve as a companion to my
illustrious pupil on the path of fame.

[K.]

[Footnote 1: The letters 258 and 259, allude to the pianoforte variations
composed by the Archduke Rudolph and dedicated to his instructor.]

259.

TO THE ARCHDUKE RUDOLPH.

Jan. 1, 1819.

All that can be comprehended in one wish, or individually named,--health,
happiness, and prosperity,--all are included in the prayer I offer up for
Y.R.H. on this day. May the wish that I also form for myself be graciously
accepted by Y.R.H., namely, that I may continue to enjoy the favor of
Y.R.H. A dreadful occurrence[1] has lately taken place in my family, which
for a long time stunned my senses, and to this must be ascribed my not
having waited on Y.R.H., nor taken any notice of the masterly variations of
my much-honored and illustrious pupil, and favorite of the Muses. The
gratitude I feel for the surprise and the honor you have done me, I dare
not v