Ferdinand Ries, Brief an Nikolaus Simrock in Bonn, Wien, 6. Mai 1809, Autograph

Ries sends Simrock a note from Beethoven in which he asks for money for his Mass op. 86.

However, Ries stresses that he does not know what he should do with it.

Simrock had apparently asked him for the price of pianos, possibly so that he could sell them on afterwards. Ries emphasizes that due to the rapid devaluation of the currency he is not able to close any advantageous deals at the moment because he does not have any money (at the time of inflation real silver or gold coins were of greater value than paper money).

He does not like Leipzig pianos.

Simrock had probably brought back Ries' newly published works from the fair in Leipzig. Ries presumes that the publisher will "survive the current terrible musical times better and more peacefully than I", and sends greetings to all his friends and his own family.