-- -- --
As to the works to be arranged I am heartily delighted that you
have refused them. The unnatural mania now is so prevalent, for
transferring even pianoforte compositions to stringed instruments,
Instruments which involve in all respects are so utterly different
from one another, should really be checked. I firmly maintain
that only Mozart could arrange for other instruments the works
he composed for the pianoforte; and Haydn could do this too --
And without wishing to force my company on those two great men,
I make the same statement about my own pianoforte sonatas also,
for not only would whole passages have to be entirely omitted
or altered, but some would have to -- be added; and they're one
finds the nasty stumbling-block, to overcome which one must either
be the composer himself or any rate possess the same skill and
inventiveness -- I have arranged only one of my sonatas (Opus
14, no.1) for string quartet, because I was so earnestly implored
to do so; and I am quite convinced that nobody else could do the
same thing with ease.