Ludwig van Beethoven, Brief an Carl Amenda, Wien, Sommer 1799, Autograph

Beethoven says goodbye to his friend Amenda, as he will be leaving Vienna that same day to spend some time in the country in Mödling. The invitation had also come at the right time as his "broken heart would have suffered even more without it". Amenda was also on the point of leaving, albeit more permanently: he was returning to his home in Courland for good. Beethoven might have "fled" to Mödling because he wanted to avoid a farewell scene. Prior to 1800 Carl Amenda was certainly one of Beethoven's closest friends, and the separation from Amenda was very difficult for Beethoven. In the letter Beethoven also mentions his plans to visit Poland (although there is no proof that he did so). Finally he wishes his friend a good journey home and asks him to send him news when from underway and also from Courland.