The letter accompanied Beethoven's petition to the Magistratof 1 February 1819 regarding his nephew Karl. In it Beethoven justifies his extensive petition and stresses that he is only concerned about the child's well-being and not his own as has been claimed.
Following the death of his brother, Beethoven had been appointed guardian of his nephew Karl in January 1816. The child's mother, Johanna van Beethoven, against whom Beethoven bitterly fought, challenged this ruling. A very lengthy legal battle ensued, which was handed over to the Viennese Magistratin December 1818. In January the Magistratasked Beethoven about his plans for the boy's education. As a result he put together a memorandum in which he laid them out (the petition mentioned in the letter). In March 1819 the Magistratdecided to appoint guardian, a Councillor at the . This was, however, not the end of the dispute. It was only in April 1820 that the Court of Appeal finally ruled in Beethoven's favour.
