Ries had advised Beethoven to have his organizational matters dealt with by someone else. Beethoven describes the bad experiences he has had. He had asked Schindler to coordinate the German and English editions of the Variations op. 120. However, Schindler had proved a failure (this "arch blackguard") and everything had gone wrong. The English edition, to have been published by Thomas Boosey and dedicated to Harriet Ries, had never materialized due to the lack of coordination regarding the publication date. Beethoven promises to dedicate another work to Ries' wife Harriet (he never kept this promise).
Boosey has asked Beethoven for short piano works for a collection and Beethoven gives him a basically positive reply, provided that he receives 30 ducats for each piece and the right to publish them in the rest of Europe.
He informs Ries that the copy of op. 125 is on its way, which he has completed shortly before (a shameless exaggeration; the Ninth Symphony was not yet finished at the time of writing, the copy was only sent to England in April 1824). He will also shortly send the Mass op. 123 (he had actually already completed the Missa solemnis at the beginning of the year).
Beethoven writes about his poor health, which has not improved despite his stay in Baden. Once again he apologizes for the English edition of the Variations which has fallen through and the fact that the dedication to Harriet Ries has not come about. He agrees to the choral movements which Ries has requested. He also promises to soon reply to George Smart, who had repeatedly expressed the wish for a new oratorio since 1818.
