Most Highly Honoured Sir!
As I have been constantly unwell an extremely busy I have found it impossible to reply to your letters –– But why in the name of Heaven do you, on that account, hit on ideas which are not applicable to me at all? What should I be annoyed about? –– It would have been better if you had sent the music immediately after it was performed, for that was the very time when I could have had it performed here. As it was, it unfortunately arrived too late; and the only reason why I use the word ‘unfortunately’ is that now I cannot save the Reverend Ladies the expense of having it copied. At any other time I would not in any circumstances have asked them to defray the costs of copying. But just at this very moment I have been assailed by a host of misfortunes which have prevented me from acting otherwise –– Herr R[ettich], despite his usual very cordial readiness to help, probably failed to inform you of this; and thus I had to ask him to pay for the copying –– Moreover, as I was in a hurry, I may not have expressed myself sufficiently clearly –– Well, my most esteemed fellow, you may now I have the overture back, and the chorus too, should you require both compositions. I am convinced that you will do your utmost to prevent my confidence from being abused. –– Meanwhile keep the other overture [of Opus 117] on the same conditions as I have already laid down. Should I be in a position to pay for the copying, I will redeem them ––
I am making you a present of the score of the oratorio and also of the overture to Egmont.
You may keep the parts of the oratorio until you have had it performed –– For a concert which, I understand, you now wish to give, use all the works you want; and if for this purpose you need to chorus and the overture what you have returned to me, both these compositions will be sent back to you immediately. –– For the next concert for the benefit of the Reverend Ursulines I promise to let you have at once an entirely new symphony. [The seventh symphony, Opus 92]. That is the least I am sending, but perhaps I shall add something suitable for voices –– and since I can now manage to do so, I shall see that the copying does not cost a single farthing. My delight at the success of the concert would be unbounded if, in addition, I had not had to run you into any expense. Well, you must just be content with my good intentions –– Give my compliments to the Reverend instructresses of the children and tell them that I wept tears of joy on hearing of the great success of my feeble good intentions, and that wherever my small talents suffice to render these ladies some service, they will always finding me their most ardent sympathizer ––
My cordial thanks for your invitation. The interesting parts of Styria; and it may well be that I shall give myself that pleasure. All good wishes to you. I am thoroughly delighted to have found in you have a friend of the oppressed –– and I shall always remain your most willing servant
Ludwig van Beethoven