Nikolaus Galitzin, Brief an Anton Schindler in Frankfurt, St. Petersburg, 10./21. April 1853, Autograph

In his Beethoven biography, in letters and newspaper articles, Schindler repeatedly claimed that Prince Galitzin had never paid Beethoven for the string quartets op. 127, 130 and 132 he had ordered, and that he had even demanded a one-year-long exclusive right. Galitzin proves that he transferred 700 roubles to Beethoven via the Vienna banks Stieglitz and Henikstein on February 19, 1823. This was 150 roubles more than the 50 roubles previously agreed for the quartet in E sharp major, op. 127. He quotes from his letters to the composer, dated February 19 and March 5, 1823. All in all, for the three quartets he paid 154 ducats, which was a lot more than originally agreed. Furthermore, he never demanded an exclusive right.

However, Galitzin indeed owed Beethoven 125 ducats (for two quartets and the overture op. 124; see BGA 2179). Only as a consequence of the dispute did the prince pay the outstanding sum to Beethoven's nephew Karl. In 1858, prince Galitzin's son Jurij Nikolajewitsch once more transferred the same sum to Karl van Beethoven's heirs.(F.G.)