Well, at last I am writing to you – We are enjoying a little peace after violent destruction, after suffering every hardship that one could conceivably endure – I worked for a few weeks in succession, but it seemed to me more for death than for immortality – that is why I received your parcel with no letter enclosed and therefore paid no further attention to it – Only a few days ago I had a look at the contents; and now I have very lively reproaches to make to you, such as, why is this very fine edition not without inaccuracies ? ? ? ? Why did you not send me first a copy to check, as I have so often asked you to do? Errors creep into every copy, but they are errors which any competent proof-reader can correct, although indeed I am almost certain that there are few, if any, mistakes in the copy I sent you. It is impossible always to send copies in my own handwriting. But I checked the trios [Opus 70] and the symphonies so carefully that with more accurate proofreading there should have been very few mistakes and, if any, only unimportant ones – I am rather annoyed about this – Here is the list. As poets and writers, when they can’t be on the spot where their works are being produced, have a list of errata printed, you must do the same thing – and I will make out the list here – I have not heard whether you have received my three works [Opus 72, 85, 86]? Surely you have now had them for a considerable time – I have not yet been a le to let you know anything about Dr. Apel. Meanwhile remember me to him as one of his admirers – One thing more: there is hardly any treatise which could be too learned for me. I have not the slightest pretension to what is properly called erudition. Yet from my childhood I have striven to understand what the better and wiser people of every age were driving at in their works. Shame on an artist who does not consider it his duty to achieve at least as much –
What do you say to this dead peace [Anderson footnote: “A treaty of peace between France and Austria had been signed at Schönbrunn on October 14, 1809.”]? – I no longer expect to see any stability in this age. The only certainty we can rely on is blind chance – Accept my good wishes, my honoured friend, and let me know soon what you are doing with yourself and whether you have received the works –
Your most devoted friend
Beethoven
This copy, the only one, of the C minor symphony is not complete. So please send me a few more copies both of this symphony and of the Pastoral symphony. [Opus 67, 68]