Your Imperial Highness!
It is not possible to have the parts doubled by eleven o’clock tomorrow morning. Copyists have usually a great deal of work this week. [Anderson footnote: “I.e. the week preceding Holy Week. In 1813 Easter Sunday was on April 13th.”] So I think that you should kindly choose the Day of the Resurrection, which is next Saturday. By that time I too shall certainly have recovered and shall be better able to conduct. It would have been difficult for me to do so tomorrow in spite of my best intentions. I hope to be able to go out on Friday for certain and to visit you then.
Your Imperial Highness’s
Loyal and most obedient
Beethoven