Ludwig van Beethoven, Brief an Joseph Karl Bernard in Wien, Mödling, 6. Juni 1819, Autograph

Beethoven sends Joseph Karl Bernard information about the rejection concerning a passport for his nephew Karl. He asks Bernard to formulate a petition which Beethoven can hand over to the Archduke so as to be given permission for a passport.

He asks Bernard to lunch with him next Tuesday and to bring the petition with him so that he can hand it over the same day.

Beethoven battled with his sister-in-law for years over the guardianship of his nephew (her son) Karl, the son of his brother, who had died in November 1815. As far as Beethoven was concerned, the child's mother, Johanna van Beethoven, was an "non-person" whom he accused of many bad things. He wanted to keep her away from the child at all costs.

In 1819 Beethoven thought about sending his nephew abroad - to Landshut - to continue his education. Karl would have needed a passport to be allowed to leave the country. However the Magistrathad refused to allow this several times as the mother had protested about the distance.