My most Excellent Treitschke!
I too have now received the translation of the melodrama [‘Les Ruines de Babylon’.] and also Pálffy’s instructions to make all the necessary arrangements with you. Nothing prevents you now from keeping your promise to me. But I am again enquiring of you whether you are really going to keep it, so that I may know how I stand – I have heard, it is true, that the same work was previously performed as a drama in the Leopoldstadt and on our German stage; but I think that this does not really matter, since at any rate it is not being performed at the present time – I am convinced that the most advantageous arrangement would be to have plenty of recitatives and dances, the more so as I should like to give the part of Giafar to Siboni. It would be better if he could only sing, because he might perhaps refuse to speak at all – We can discuss all the other points when we meet – The translation which Count Pálffy sent me was revised by Castelli for the Priviligiertes Wiedner Theater and you will be able to use hardly any of it. But in this way we shall forestall any mischief – I have been away for a few days. That explains why you have heard nothing from me –
Now please be so kind as to let me know whether you still intend to work this subject into an operatic text for me. While awaiting a favourable reply
I remain your most devoted servant
Beethoven