Beethoven declares he has not forgotten his Leipzig publisher since his last letter (according to the BGA probably of 17.09.1812 from Teplitz). Unfavourable circumstances have prevented him from keeping in contact. He also gives the excuse that financial obligations have forced him to conclude a contract with a Viennese publisher (Beethoven had run up debts with Steiner).
Beethoven thanks Härtel for the Allgemeine musikalische Zeitung (AmZ) he has sent and promises to deliver a supplement again. He asks for Ernst Chladnis' address on behalf of an acquaintance. Finally Beethoven points out that he had been promised music with the last edition of the AmZ, but that he has not yet received it. He wonders whether there has been a mistake or whether the "Trägeheit des Hr. Traeg" ("Lethargy of Hr. Traeg " - a German play on words often used by Beethoven) is responsible for this. (Traeg was a music dealer and commission agent for Breitkopf & Härtel in Vienna).
