Beethoven proudly and happily informs Karl Pinterics that the Magistrat has come to a decision in the guardianship battle concerning his nephew Karl, "which puts me completely in the right". Furthermore he tells him that Dr. Bach was his lawyer, "and this stream [German = Bach] was joined by the sea with thunder, lightning and storm, and the Magistrat's brigantine must have completely sunk."
Since the death of his brother in November 1815, Beethoven had quarrelled with his brother's widow Johanna van Beethoven concerning the guardianship of his nephew Karl (and her son). The battle lasted several years. On 8 April 1820 the Court of Appeal finally ruled in Beethoven's favour, revising a ruling by the Magistrat of the City of Vienna, which had awarded Johanna guardianship.
