Ferdinand Ries, Brief mit einem Zusatz von Harriet Ries an Franz Gerhard Wegeler in Koblenz, London, 17. Oktober 1815, Autograph, Fragment

Ries excuses his enduring silence with a wording often used by Beethoven as well: "das Worte schreiben - die ich auch fühle und denke - geht doch nicht so gut wie das Noten schreiben, und dadurch wähle ich nur zu oft das letztere." (Writing words on how I feel and think is not as easy as writing notes, so I oftentimes choose the latter.) The books and magazines asked for by Wegeler are in the mail. Wegeler shall prepare Ries's brother Joseph (1791-1882) for employment in the trading company of art patron Peter Carl Theodor Aders (1780-1846) in London. Ries would like to own a portrait of his teacher Beethoven. He has not heard from him in a long time; within the last five years, Beethoven had only asked him once to represent him in a possible lawsuit in England. Ries admits that nevertheless he cannot help but love the fool! "Dennoch muß ich den Tollkopf lieben!" Then, Ries is asking about Wegeler's family, the "amazing Julius" (Wegeler's son Julius Stephan) and his "former pupil Madam Wegeler" (Eleonore von Breuning). Wegeler's daughter Lenchen (Maria Helene Josepha Theresia) will soon receive some new and easy piano compositions from Ries. He is looking forward to seeing his home country and the Wegeler family soon again. "Das Nest wo man geboren ist, liebt man doch [vor] allen andern." (The place where one was born is what one cherishes most.) (FG)