Dear Friend!
Do whatever you think best, but I fancy it would be better to write to Count Narischkin then to the Empress. You must keep the original document, however, so that if Narischkin’s illness should persist, Application could be made to someone else or to the Empress herself. Your Excellency has sent me the very agreeable news that the Empress has been pleased to accept my small offering; and to that extent my greatest wishes been fulfilled –– But how highly should I feel myself honoured if I could inform the world of this, and by prefixing her name and so forth enable the world to share this honour. (You will have to express all this more suitably than I can.)
Since the grand symphony in A can be regarded as one of the happiest products of my poor talents (to be expressed very modestly), I would take the liberty of presenting to Her Majesty the pianoforte arrangement of this work [Opus 92] together with the polonaise. ––
A clear statement that one can certainly do something but does not want to receive anything through or from the Russian Empress ––
Should Her Majesty desire to hear me play, that would be the highest honor for me. But before doing so I must beg for her indulgence, seeing that for a considerable time I have devoted myself more exclusively to composition (to creative work) ––
No present, etc ––
Do you think it would be better to draft it in the form of a petition to the Empress etc ? ? ? ! ! ! or to put it to Narischkin as a request.
If only I could be so fortunate as to compose for her Majesty whatever her taste or predilection disposes her to choose. . . .