Viennese popular taste ran toward non-serious, dance music. The Viennese, owing to recent
military defeats & monitary devaluation were caught in debilitating cycles of anxiety and
reprieve.  In the words of one observer of the times: supported a fatalistic attitude in many and
a popular stage theme of tragedy in which "a desperate man's curse makes Providence the
instrument of vengeance, hatred and even blunt stupidity." [L.Dec. p16]
-----------------------
"...the Austrian crown-lands in 1815 were in a state very nearly bordering on collapse.
[L.Dec p17]
-----------------------
Between 1815 & 1848 strict literary censorship in plcace instituted by Metternich and
administered by Count Sedlnitzky [L.Dec p101]
-----------------------
"Never outwardly show people the contempt they deserve, because one cannot know
when one may need them." [Tagebuch#34]
-----------------------
"Always study from half-past five until Breakfast" [Tagebuch#48]
-----------------------
"But now Fate catches me! Let me not sink into the dust unresisting & inglorious, But first
accomplish great things, of which future generations too shall hear!"  [Tagebuch#49] (from the
Iliad Book 22 pg356)
-----------------------
"Spare even the closest friend your secrets; How can you ask fidelity of him, when you deny it
to yourself?" [Tagebuch#59] (from Herder) 
-----------------------
"Though often darkly led to evil by passion, I returned through penance and purification to the
pure fountain -- to God and to your art" [Diary Entry] [L. Decade pg270 Footnote #1]

Invitation to Beethoven by Countess Erdody (using the familiar Du form):
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Apollo's foremost son!
You greatest of great spirits,
Music's first master,
Now known to Europe,
to whom Apollo himself yields,
And from the Muses' throne
Rewards with his crown:
Hear and grant our entreaty,
Remain today in our midst -
Great man Beethoven
Give fiat to our hopes.
* * *
The old Marie,
The young Marie,
The unique Fritzi
August ditto
Magister ipse
The Accursed Violoncello
Old Baron of the Empire
Chief Bailiff
* * *
To the laurel-crowned Magesty
of the noble art of music
Ludwig v. Beethoven
a most ardent entreaty
from the Jedlersee muses
that their beloved Apollo
may pass this day
in their
midst.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Man of His Word pg145-6 ref.7 = Brief von Beethoven an Marie Grafai Erdody geb. grafin Nisky, ed: Alfred Schone pg26-27]

From an autograph note of Beethoven's:

----------------------------------------------
"on the Kahlenberg 1815 end of September
in the woods -- 
I am blissfully
happy in the
woods every
tree speaks
through you
Oh God what
splendor
in such a 
wooded place
on high
is peace --
peace to 
serve him --"
----------------------------------------------