BEETHOVEN 200 YEARS AGO TODAY: Monday, September 25, 1826

Nephew Karl’s mother Johanna sends a messenger, possibly a servant, to let Ludwig know that Karl has unexpectedly been removed from the hospital and taken to jail. The messenger writes, “He is on the Salzgries in the police station, so she told me.” Beethoven goes with the messenger to the police station to try to get Karl released. He will be given food here, but Ludwig won’t be permitted to get him until tomorrow at 9 o’clock. The messenger asked whether one could send Karl money, and they said no, nothing at all. [The German editors conjecture that the writer is Beethoven’s former housekeeper Elise Seidl, but she had not been in Beethoven’s employ for months, and there is no other indication that she had any involvement in Beethoven’s or Johanna’s affairs at this time. More likely this is a servant or other go-between whose handwriting may resemble Seidl’s.]

Beethoven goes to talk to Johanna. She tells Beethoven, “The Liguorian [priest responsible for Karl’s religious reeducation] came to see me and told me that he had already delivered the testimony, that Karl could be released, but the doctor at the hospital had sent him to the city, where he has to spend the night among common criminals, the scum of humanity, without a bed.” Johanna took the court lawyer Caspar Klemenschütz to see the councilor, Ignaz Czapka, who said that the doctor had sent Karl.

Beethoven accuses Johanna of seeing Karl behind his back constantly. She denies it, saying that she did not go to Karl very often because of these boys. She was able to talk to Karl briefly in the councilor’s room, where he told her that he was in the same cell as 7 or 10 scoundrels. The councilor confirmed that he would be held until tomorrow. “Karl was desperate about this.”

Brother Johann arrives in Vienna, and has convinced Ludwig that he and Karl should join him at his estate in Gneixendorf. Johann would like to depart tomorrow morning, because he still has a lot to do with the cultivation. Johann will go to see Ignaz Czapka, the court councilor, tomorrow at 9 o’clock, but he thinks it best if Ludwig goes to Stephan von Breuning at once. “You should leave everything to v Breuning now. — I do not know about anything since I have been away.”

Beethoven visits Breuning, explaining the plan to take Karl to Gneixendorf. Breuning tells Beethoven that Karl needs to be in Vienna in order to be enlisted and equipped, but that can be done in 8 days, once they have free disposal of him. Beethoven asks Breuning why he thinks Karl wants to join the army. “He is attracted to the uniform, the outer appearance, and the casual company.” Under the law, Karl is supposed to have 6 weeks of religious instruction in police custody; these will probably start now. Ludwig likely lets him know that Karl has already completed the religious instruction, as confirmed by the Liguorian priest, which set in motion the doctor sending Karl to the police this morning.

“As soon as he is released,” Breuning continues, “I’ll take him to Lieutenant Field Marshal Stutterheim, have him enlisted the next day, and in 5 to 6 days he can be equipped and depart.” Beethoven offers to do what he can, and Breuning tells Beethoven to just let him handle it.

Conversation Book 121, 17r-20r.