Beethoven has his friend Franz Oliva draft a letter to Breitkopf & Härtel in which he makes it clear that he is neither asking for an overly high payment nor going behind the publisher's back. It concerns the publication of the works which he had offered in his letter of 4 February 1810 (HCB Br, BG 423). Beethoven is planning a parallel edition in London which he does not think will not endanger the sales of the works on the continent in the slightest (this seemed to be Härtel's concern). He has never sold the works to France. Beethoven stresses once again that he is giving preference to Breitkopf & Härtel over all the other German publishers, but that he cannot always bow to their rigid ideas about price.
Beethoven announces that he would like to do a complete edition of his works with the Leipzig publisher. He sets down details of his idea and how it could be done and asks for feedback.
