Beethoven's letter is in connection with the dispute concerning the guardianship of his nephew Karl. The child's mother, Beethoven's sister-in-law Johanna, also laid claim to the guardianship. Beethoven greatly disapproved of her, not only because she had a previous conviction. At the beginning of May a member of the Magistrat Franz Xaver Piuk had taken over the department in charge of the case. Beethoven now writes to him to explain his standpoint. First of all Beethoven wants to prevent his nephew being called before the Magistrat in the hearing. If questioned, Karl would have to testify against his mother. Beethoven considers this to be unreasonable and irresponsible, and wants to protect him from having to undergo this, "by the way no boy in his thirteenth year belongs in front of any court".
Beethoven also insists on keeping the number of days the mother may visit her child to a minimum (once every two months). The composer has an extraordinary hatred of Johanna van Beethoven. He is convinced of her corrupting influence on his nephew. Together with this demand, Beethoven seizes the opportunity to portray Johanna's bad character in detail. In order to protect the child he demands that "this mother must be morally and politically dead for him. She can no longer change for the better, but my nephew can still be ruined in so many ways!!!"
