y newspaper, to their disgrace. If there
had been an heir, and the facts had been told to him _in all their truth_,
just as I narrated them, I am convinced that he would at once have adopted
the words and deeds of his predecessor. Has Dr. Wolf [the previous
advocate] shown you the papers, or shall I make you acquainted with them?
As I am by no means sure that this letter will reach you safely, I defer
sending you the pianoforte arrangement of my opera "Fidelio," which is
ready to be dispatched.

I hope, in accordance with your usual friendliness, soon to hear from you.
I am also writing to Dr. Wolf (who certainly does not treat any one
_wolfishly_), in order not to arouse his _passion_, so that he may have
_compassion_ on me, and neither take my purse nor my life.

I am, with esteem, your true friend,

LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN.

131.

TO COUNT MORITZ LICHNOWSKY.

Baden, Sept. 21, 1841.[1]

MOST ESTEEMED COUNT AND FRIEND,--

I unluckily only got your letter yesterday. A thousand thanks for your
remembrance of me. Pray express my gratitude also to your charming Princess
Christiane [wife of Prince Carl Lichnowsky]. I had a delightful walk
yesterday with a friend in the Bruehl, and in the course of our friendly
chat you were particularly mentioned, and lo! and behold! on my return I
found your kind letter. I see you are resolved to continue to load me with
benefits.

As I am unwilling you should suppose that a step I have already taken is
prompted by your recent favors, or by any motive of the sort, I must tell
you that a sonata of mine [Op. 90] is about to appear, _dedicated to you_.
I wished to give you a surprise, as this dedication has been long designed
for you, but your letter of yesterday induces me to name the fact. I
required no new motive thus publicly to testify my sense of your friendship
and kindness. But as for anything approaching to a gift in return, you
would only distress me, by thus totally misinterpreting my intentions, and
I should at once decidedly refuse such a thing.

I beg to kiss the hand of the Princess for her kind message and all her
goodness to me. _Never have I forgotten what I owe to you all_, though an
unfortunate combination of circumstances prevented my testifying this as I
could have wished.

From what you tell me about Lord Castlereagh, I think the matter in the
best possible train. If I were to give an opinion on the subject, I should
say that Lord Castlereagh ought to hear