Dear Streicher!
You promised to let me have a piano by the end of October; and now we are already have to November and as yet I haven’t received one –– My motto is either to play on a good instrument or not at all –– As for my French piano, which is certainly quite useless now, I still have misgivings about selling it, for it is really a souvenir such as no one here has so far honoured me with ––
On account of my foot I cannot yet walk so far. But if you keep be waiting any longer I will invade your premises with a horrible modulation; and then a murrain upon you –– Forgive my filthy ink-blots.
In regard to the remover, if any further damage was done to the instrument perhaps while in my possession, just quite possible in view of the state of my household at that time, then let me know this frankly, for I am perfectly willing, of course, to compensate you for the loss.
All good wishes, if you send me a p[ianoforte];
if not, been all bad wishes ––
Your friend
Beethoven
By the way, since my home is now in better order, your i[nstrument] will certainly suffer no damage.