Good Old Friend,
I am inclined to think that these lines of mine will cause you some astonishment – and yet, although you have no written proofs of this, you are still ever most vividly in my thoughts – There has even been for a long time among my manuscripts one which is intended for you and which you will certainly receive this summer – For about two years I have had to give up my rather quiet and peaceful way of life and have been forced to move in society. So far I have noticed no beneficial result, on the contrary, perhaps a rather unfavourable one – But who can escape the onslaughts of tempests raging around him? Yet I should be happy, perhaps one of the happiest of mortals, if that fiend had not settled in my ears – If I had not read somewhere that a man should not voluntarily quit this life so long as he can still perform a good reed, I would have left this earth long ago – and, what is more, by my own hand -- Oh, this life is indeed beautiful, but for me it is poisoned for ever – I know that you will not refuse a friend’s request when I ask you to obtain for me my certificate of baptism – Whatever the expenses involved may be, Steffen Breuning, who has a running account with you, can pay yhou immediately; and I will refund the money to him here at once. – Even if you think it worth while to investigate the matter and would be willing to make the journey from Coblenz to Bonn, charge all the expenses to me – meanwhile take note of the fact that I had a brother born before me, who was also called Ludwig, but with the additional name of ‘Maria’, and who died. In order to determine my true age, you should, therefore, first find this Ludwig. For I know that other people, by giving out that I am older than I really am, have been responsible for this error – Unfortunately I lived for while without knowing how old I was – I had a family book, but it was lost, Heaven knows how – So please do not be annoyed at my earnestly requesting you to find out all about Ludwig Maria and the present Ludwig, who was born after him – The sooner you send me the certificate of baptism, the greater will be my gratitude – I am told that in your Masonic Lodges you sing a song composed by me, presumably in E major, which I myself do not possess. Do send it to me. I promise to make it up to you three or four times over in some other way – Think of me with some good will, however, little I may deserve it, if you merely judge by appearances – Embrace and kiss your beloved wife and your children an all whom you are fond of – on behalf
of your friend
Beethoven