My Unique, My Most Esteemed K[anka]!
What am I to think, to say, to feel? –– My opinion of W[olf] is that he has not only laid himself open to attack but also has taken no trouble whatever to cover his bare spots –– I cannot believe that he attached to his written statement all the proper certificates which belong to it –– The order to the cashier about the scale was given by Prince K[insky] before his agreement to pay me my salary in redemption bonds, as is stated in the certificates –– the date of which one need only examine –– Hence the previous order is not valid. –– The species facti proves that I was away from Vienna for over six months. As it so happened that I did not require the money, I let things slide. The Prince forgot to cancel his previous order to the cashier, but he did not forget the promise see had given to me, nor the promise he had given about me to Varnhagan (an officer), exactly as Herr von Oliva’s testimony proves. For shortly before his departure from Vienna and for the next world the Prince repeated his promise to Herr von Oliva and instructed him to call on him again after his return to Vienna in order to make the matter right with the cashier; this, of course, could not be done owing to his unforeseen death –– The officer Varnhagen’s deposition is accompanied by a letter written from the Russian army, in which he declares his willingness to swear to this incident on oath –– Herr Oliva’s deposition proves that he too is prepared to swear to his statement in a court –– As I have sent off the deposition of Colonel Count Bentheim, I cannot state this with absolute certainty; but so far as I remember, this Count too declares in his deposition that in any case he is prepared to swear to the incident in a court of law –– And I too am willing to swear in a court that Prince Kinsky told me at Prague ‘that in his opinion it was only fair to arrange for my income to be paid to me in redemption bonds’. Those were his very words –– He himself advance to me at Prague 60 gold ducats which at that time we’re supposed to be worth about 600 gulden. Owing to my state of health I could not stay at Prague for long and proceeded to Teplitz –– But the Prince’s word was sacred to me, seeing that I had never heard him say anything which might have induced me to bring two witnesses with me or to ask him to give me something in writing –– I see from the trend of the whole affair that Dr. Wolf has handled it abominably and that he did not make you sufficiently acquainted with the written documents. –– A few words now about the step that I have just taken –– A short time ago the Archduke Rudolph asked me whether the Kinsky affair had not yet been settled. So he must have heard something about it. I explained to him that things were not looking well, since I am heard nothing, nothing whatever. He offered to write a personal letter, but suggested that I should add a written statement and also acquaint him with all the necessary documents relating to the K[insky] affair. After convincing himself of the necessity of doing this, he then wrote to the Oberstburggraf in closing a letter to him from me. The Oberstburggraf replied immediately both to the Archduke and to me. In this letter to me he told me ‘that I should lodge an application and all the proofs with the Landrechte at Prague, whence it would be forwarded to him, and that he would do his very best to further my cause’. To the Archduke also he wrote in the most cordial manner and even stated emphatically ‘that in regard to this affair he was perfectly well acquainted with the intentions of the late Prince Kinsky about me and that I should lodging application and so forth’. Whereupon the Archduke summoned me at once and told me that I should have the written statement drafted and show it to him. He added that he thought that an application should be made for an agreement to pay in redemption bonds, since there were sufficient proofs, so not in legal form, of the Prince’s intentions, and since no one could doubt that if the Prince had lived he would have kept his word –– If he were the heir today, he would demand no further proves in those which have been produced –– Whereupon I then sent the document to Baron Pasqualati, who will be so kind as to deliver it to the Landrechte. It was only after this affair had already been set going that Dr. Adlersburg received from Dr. Wolf a letter informing him that he had made the offer for 1500 gulden. Since the figure of 1500 gulden has already been reached and has been mentioned to the Oberstburggraf, no doubt it will be possible to raise it two 1800 gulden –– This is no favour, for the late Prince was one of those who pressed me most of all to refuse the yearly salary of 600 gold ducats, which I could have had in Westphalia. At that time he said among other things ‘that indeed it I should not eat any Westphalian ham’ –– A little later on I also refused another appointment at Naples –– I am legally entitled to demand compensation for the loss I have sustained. When my income was paid in bank-notes, what was I getting? Not even 400 gulden in assimilated coinage! ! ! –– And that was to be the equivalent of an income of 600 ducats –– We have quite sufficient proofs for anyone who wishes to act with integrity –– And now what has become of the redemption bonds??!!! Even they are no equivalent of what I have forfeited –– In all the papers this affair was being trumpeted forth most pompously whilst I have become almost a beggar. –– What the Prince intended is clear; and in my opinion the family is committed to act in accordance with his intention, unless it is prepared to lose caste –– Moreover on account of the Prince’s death the family income has increased rather than diminished. So there is no valid reason to curtail expenditure ––
I received yesterday your friendly communication –– But now I am too tired to tell you in this letter what I feel about you –– At the same time I am trusting my affair to your intelligence. Apparently the Oberstburggraf is the protagonist. Do not appear to know anything about what you wrote to the Archduke, for that might not help us. It would be best no one but you and Baron Pasqualati were to know about it –– You have sufficient evidence, if you examine the documents, to show how wrongly Dr. W[olf] set about the affair –– and how we must certainly act, and very differently –– I leave it to your friendly attitude to me to act as you think best –– You may expect my warmest thanks; and to forgive me for not being able to write any more today, but I find it exhausting –– I would rather undertake the greatest musical task –– My Hart has already found for you something which will make your heart beat as well; and this you will soon receive –– Do not forget me, who am a poor harassed individual; and act –– exert yourself as much as you possibly can ––
With the most cordial regards, your sincere friend
Beethoven