BEETHOVEN 200 YEARS AGO TODAY: Monday, August 14, 1826

Unpaid assistant Karl Holz takes Beethoven’s receipt for the first installment payment, 40 ducats, for the quartet op.131 to Franck & Co., and collects the gold ducats. He reports to Beethoven, who wants the funds in a more convenient form, Viennese florins. Holz tells him he will have the gold exchanged at once. He will use the same place, David Wertheim & Co., that he previously used, since the ducats are best converted there. Beethoven is wary of high exchange fees, and Holz assures him that does not always happen. He can only exchange part of it, though, 20 ducats. He hopes that would last until September 1, when Archduke Rudolph’s annuity payment comes in. 20 ducats would be 229 florins, he tells Beethoven.

They appear to go an inn at some point during this conversation, where they are to meet violinist Ignaz Schuppanzigh and cloth merchant Johann Nepomuk Wolfmayer, but they have not yet arrived. While they wait, Uncle Ludwig is worrying about the religious training that Nephew Karl will have to receive as a result of his attempted suicide. Holz tells him that he will have to study more than ever. He knows the porter at the university, who might be able to suggest a sympathetic priest to handle these duties. If theologist Friedrich Werner (1768-1823) were still alive, he would gladly have seen Karl. It would be best to have someone positive, making jokes, putting on the jester’s cap, like Abraham a Sancta Clara [(1644-1709) a chaplain who had been popular for his sermons with earthy humor; a book of these sermons had just been published under the name “Pater Abraham,” which is what Holz calls him, so both men were probably familiar with that volume.]

Beethoven suggests Ludwig Rembold, professor of philosophy at the University. Holz says he was dismissed as professor of philosophy; he was accused of being careless by saying that Jesus Christ had been the greatest man. “He did sacrifice himself for humankind in a great way, and in order to carry out his great idea. The people do need such a leader; the educated one has his sensible theories. What makes our saints different from the gods and demi-gods of mythology? If it were allowed for Karl to have a Protestant pastor, I would not advise anyone else.”

Johann Veith (1787-1876) and Johann Madlener (1787-1878) are the most sensible Liguorians, Holz says. “The former was Professor and Head of the veterinary hospital, a writer with a philosophical mind; the latter was a substitute teacher of high mathematics.”

Ludwig mentions that Karl’s mother Johanna has written him a letter asking for money for the hospital from him. Holz warns him not to give her the money; he will take it there himself, should it be needed.

Beethoven asks whether Karl hates him so much? Holz answers, “He said it is not hatred of you which he feels, but something entirely different. I did not want to inquire further; now is not the time for it.” Beethoven asks how long Karl will remain in the hospital before his religious training begins. “I asked the nurse,” Holz responds. “She said it could still be a while.”

Although there are still some blank pages left in Conversation Book 117, the discussion appears to shift to Conversation Book 118 without a break from this point. Conversation Book 118 is a volume with 47 leaves, with writing on every page. Schindler correctly marked it as “Summer 1826.” This book was used over the second half of August, 1826, though there is major overlap with Conversation Book 119 towards the end of the month.

Holz continues, “He is as much under supervision there as if he were already in prison. The police are responsible for it.” Beethoven laments that he did not know that Karl was so desperately unhappy before it came to this. Holz blames landlord Mathias Schlemmer, who saw Karl the most: “If he had meant well with you, he would have told you about Karl’s state a long time ago.”

Beethoven wonders whether the pressure of examinations coming up had a role in affecting Karl’s mind. Holz thinks not: “He told me yesterday that it would have been easy for him to take his exams, but as he had already made up his mind to shoot himself, he did not find it worthwhile.”

Beethoven sees an unusual drink and asks what it is; Holz tells him it is frozen beer. They use an essence of beer. It can be obtained in coffee houses, where they make ice. “It is very strong, intense. One does not drink it every day.” Holz asks whether Beethoven would like more beer. They also have Malvasier, a dessert wine.

Holz does not think much of the hospital accommodations. “I noticed yesterday that it was an insane person who visited Karl; this seems to prove to me that these rooms are for the insane, and that Karl is also treated as one of them.”

At this point, Schuppanzigh and Wolfmayer appear to join the other two. Wolfmayer offers his condolences, and agrees with Ludwig that the mental illness comes from Johanna. “What a good father you would have been with 12 children!” He also commends Beethoven’s benevolence, though Holz appears to add as a parenthetical that it was not benevolence any more, but rather forbearance.

Beethoven regrets that things did not work out with Frau Passy as housekeeper; he knows that Wolfmayer is fond of her. Wolfmayer says he did not recommend her to him; Brother Johann was at Wolfmayer’s and said he had recommended her to Ludwig. But he is happy since Beethoven appreciates the Nussberger wine; Wolfmayer will make arrangements to have some of this type sent to Beethoven. Schuppanzigh jokes that it would better be called Nussbeisser [nut-biter] by thirst at home. He uses that type to make frozen wine. Holz’s drinking is commented upon by Schuppanzigh: “For Holz, the wine disappears like on red-hot steel.”

Holz changes the subject to Wolfmayer’s flattery of Beethoven. “Wolfmayer is very pleased that he defended you 25 years ago, and now people are remembering that.” Goethe once said, “I was often mistreated in my first years as a writer,” in his introduction to the West-Eastern Divan.

“It is said that you always want to pull Mylord [Schuppanzigh] up by the rope.” Why, Beethoven asks. “Because he is so light,” a jab at Schuppanzigh’s obesity.

One of the guests mentions that Karl had great talent for everything. He was not a depraved person, but a morally deprived person. “He was brought that far by other people.”

There is more jocular conversation about Schuppanzigh’s family and drinking; Schuppanzigh appears to tell Beethoven he is falling behind: “You are still at the beginning,” and puns and jokes are made about freezing the essence of notes like the wine and beer. Franck & Co. does not have a good reputation, so it was best not to change the ducats for florins there. The guests appear to depart at this point.

Holz wants to go to David Wertheim & Co. to exchange the gold ducats for Beethoven. “I’ll be back soon, or would you like to come with me.” Beethoven asks about the money for Johanna. Holz tells him that if he didn’t promise her the money, he’s not obliged to give it to her. Holz says he will come tomorrow and give the money to Beethoven. Holz adds that he is going with Schuppanzigh into the country tomorrow. So, if Beethoven has time, they can go together and then Beethoven can have the money at once.

They do that and get the ducats exchanged, but not quite as many florins are received as expected. Holz comments, “My sister also always took him to be a Jew. One ducat did not have the full weight, therefore it was only counted as 4 florins 30 kreutzers.”[Holz (perhaps a little tipsy) seems to have made a mistake here, as that was the standard exchange for ducats and florins.] Holz notes that the bank shares had gone up from 1076 1/4 fl. C.M. to 1081 1/2, so the value of ducats went down a bit.

“Karl was often very charming,” comments Holz, “when he needed money. Presumably he dictated the letter to her [Johanna], or at least she read it to him and he agreed. The entire intention of them both is that you always just give them the money, and otherwise let them do what they want.”

Beethoven would like to go to the country to one of the spas. Holz suggests Meidling, close to Schönbrunn; that is not too far away. “The baths are comparable with the baths in Baden, they have a similar effect.”

Beethoven is determined to give up the guardianship of Karl. Holz agrees that is the right thing to do. “The best thing is to resign from the guardianship as soon as possible. Then you can still threaten him, if he does not obey the will of his new guardian, to completely withdraw from him, and not give him one Heller.”

“But the court soon will need to be informed about the pleasant personality of the mother; perhaps it could prevent her from being allowed to visit him during his recovery, for she would be able to ruin everything in half an hour that the priest was able to do right over the course of an entire day.” But Holz acknowledges that he is also counted among the bad persons.

Beethoven asks how long Karl will have to remain there. Holz says he will ask at the hospital tomorrow how long it may take. “If he has to stay there for long, which we assume, then it won’t matter that we wait a few days before we go to the police.” [Karl’s long recovery period indicates that the common description of Karl’s wound as superficial is probably incorrect. That lengthy convalescence is consistent with the mention that the bullet lodged in his temple and had to be removed.]

Conversation Book 117 36r-39r; Conversation Book 118 1r-10r.