Beethoven asks his publisher Steiner to publish the Overtures (op. 115 and overtures to op. 113 and op. 117) as soon as possible. Steiner had already bought them in 1815 but not yet published them (op. 113 was published in 1823, op. 115 in 1825 and op. 117 only in 1826). Beethoven announces the translation of the Scottish songs will soon be on its way. Steiner had already bought the folksong arrangements, published by Thomson in Scotland, in 1817. They were to appear in Vienna with the German text. Johann Baptist Rupprecht had been commissioned to translate them (although he was not in any particular hurry). Beethoven hopes to be able to publish further songs (op. 108) once the first lot has appeared.
In 1820 Beethoven owed Steiner a great deal of money. He assures him that he concerns himself with its repayment every day and that he will soon be able to pay off his debts. (Beethoven's relationship with Steiner rapidly deteriorated in the following years, not least because of these debts; he was only finally able to pay back the money in 1824.) In advance Beethoven promises Steiner a composition in lieu of interest, "musical interest" (however, we know of no such present at that time).
Finally he asks Steiner, to send him his "sergeant" (he is referring to Steiner's employee Tobias Haslinger) the next day in the morning (probably to help Beethoven with his move to Mödling).
