Pray request Neate, in my name, to make no public use of the various works
of mine that he has in his hands, at least not until I come. Whatever he
may have to say for himself, I have cause to complain of him.

Potter[1] called on me several times; he seems to be a worthy man, and to
have a talent for composition. My wish and hope for you is that your
circumstances may daily improve. I cannot, alas! say that such is the case
with my own.... I cannot bear to see others want, I must give; you may
therefore believe what a loser I am by this affair. I do beg that you will
write to me soon. If possible I shall try to get away from this earlier, in
the hope of escaping utter ruin, in which case I shall arrive in London by
the winter at latest. I know that you will assist an unfortunate friend. If
it had only been in my power, and had I not been chained to this place, as
I always have been, by circumstances, I certainly would have done far more
for you.

Farewell; remember me to Neate, Smart, and Cramer. Although I hear that the
latter is a _counter subject_ both to you and to myself, still I rather
understand how to manage people of that kind; so notwithstanding all this
we shall yet succeed in producing an agreeable harmony in London. I embrace
you from my heart. Your friend,

L. VAN BEETHOVEN.

Many handsome compliments to your charming, (and as I hear) handsome wife.

[Footnote 1: Schindler, in his _Biography_ (Vol. II. 254), states that
Cipriani Potter came to Vienna in 1817.]