My worthy Hofrat!
I
am sending you here with the two accounts for the copying of
my Mass. As I am ignorant of the procedure in such cases,
you will forgive me if I am perhaps applying to you about a matter
which not only may be troublesome to you but also should not be
allowed to enter your sanctuary -- One account in which the charge
per sheet is 10 kreuzer, was sent in by my copyist who is paid
at the same rate when he copies for me -- The other account has
been sent in by a different copyist whom I do not know and who,
as you see, has charged more. I don't fare any better myself,
for whenever I have given out work to be copied by strangers,
I too have had to pay more -- I should like the draft to
be made out in the names of both copyists in Vienna so
that each may collect his amount at the Prince's Residence
-- But please deduct 20 gulden from the amount payable to the
copyist Schlemmer and send it to me. For I advanced this
sum to him to enable him to pay his clerks for the
time being --
All
good wishes, my worthy Hofrat, and I shall be greatly delighted
if sometime you do me the honour of visiting me in Vienna --
Your
most devoted
Ludwig
van Beethoven