Ludwig van Beethoven, Brief an Joseph Karl Bernard, Wien, nach dem 18. Februar 1820, Autograph

Beethoven asks Bernard to carefully read through the memorandum for the Court of Appeal which he has put together and to reformulate it and to shorten it wherever he deems this necessary. Beethoven fought a legal battle concerning the guardianship of his nephew Karl over many years, and his friend Bernard always supported him. For instance he reworked many petitions for Beethoven and also helped him write letters. Bernard was a writer and from 1819 onwards the editor-in-chief of the Wiener Zeitung. This was why Beethoven placed great trust in Bernard's linguistic capabilities and also had high hopes of success due to Bernard's eloquence.