My Most Excellent Lieutenant General!
It has pleased Heaven to let the Schlacht arrive safely in London. But Heaven has taken time over it. I have just received a communication from the business correspondent in London stating that he has only now received this work. He adds a particular request that arrangements be made for the work not to appear in Vienna for three or four months – So although this may not please you, I beg you to postpone your publication for that period. On this occasion, too, I have at last been convinced that the rumour that the Schlacht had been engraved in London was all a lie – a fact which again must be gratifying to you, as much as it is to me. – Do what you can. No doubt some other occasion will present itself when I can show my goodwill to you in preference to all the others – My brother will discuss this with you –
The begging G[eneralissim]o