Beethoven thanks Wegeler for his letter. Beethoven's last letter from December 1826 (W 21, BGA 2236) had been left lying and is now enclosed in this letter, as is the portrait mentioned (W 26). Beethoven's state of health has only improved negligibly, he reckons with a fourth operation, "although the doctors have not said anything about it". (As a result of his ascites Beethoven had his abdominal area punctured a total of four times; the last time was on 27 February, ten days after this letter.)
At the time he wrote the letter Beethoven was already doomed - he died only five weeks later. Yet his letter is full of hope which he was always able to express in the strength and joy of his music despite all his misfortunes and physical suffering, "I am patient and think: from all badness there sometimes comes some good".
