BEETHOVEN 200 YEARS AGO TODAY: Monday, July 11, 1825 (approximately)
The administrator of Schloss Gutenbrunn comes to visit Beethoven to tell him that the carpenter Wangenheim has finished his work there, and will therefore go his way. Beethoven asks when he is leaving. The administrator says, “This week; that way he can come to you.”
Beethoven asks what Wangenheim told him about the work he would be doing for Beethoven. “He only said that he was going to be in your service.” [Because Wangenheim is not yet a journeyman, he has to pretend to be a servant, doing carpentry in his spare time.] Beethoven asks whether Wangenheim couldn’t continue to use the room that he has been in, rather than forcing the maid out of her quarters. The administrator says that, for Beethoven’s sake, he will let him still use the room. The administrator complains about lower class people always being full of falsehoods and deceit. Beethoven asks whether the carpenter is not descended from the nobility. The administrator says he calls himself Edler [Noble] von Wangenheim, and he’s from the Empire and a carpenter. “His parents are probably quite impoverished.”
Possibly disputing the idea that class has anything to do with whether one is a good servant, Beethoven mentions that someone [possibly housekeeper Barbara Holzmann] is quite devoted to him. The administrator marvels, “It is the rarest flower–a very devoted servant.”
The administrator tells Beethoven he’s looking much healthier now. “I congratulate you sincerely.” He asks whether Beethoven feels a significant change. Beethoven tells him he still doesn’t feel well, and the administrator asks whether he doesn’t have a good appetite and sleep well. He is surprised at the coolness of the weather.
Beethoven appears to invite the administrator to dine with him tomorrow. “Unfortunately, a number of high guests are arriving here tomorrow. I therefore look forward to the kindness of this friendship another time.”
Conversation Book 90, 34v-36r.
Beethoven writes to Dr. Anton Braunhofer a short letter dated today from Baden. “Dear esteemed one! I am coming into town tomorrow and must speak with you. Please tell the messenger [probably Holzmann, as Beethoven uses the feminine form of the word] at what time I may come to you, for it would be too late for me at 8 p.m. I will be in Vienna around 10 a.m. From this time forward, I will await only your orders as to when I should appear before you. Your admirer and friend, Beethoven.”
Brandenburg Letter 2004; Anderson Letter 1395. The original is in the Bonn Beethovenhaus, H.C. Bodmer Collection Bbr 3.and can be seen here:
https://www.beethoven.de/de/media/view/5302560139247616/scan/0
Beethoven gets ready to take a carriage to Vienna tomorrow morning, along with Frau Holzmann. He probably gives her the letter to deliver to the doctor.