Ludwig van Beethoven, Brief an Franz Anton Hoffmeister in Leipzig, Wien, 15. Januar 1801, Autograph

Beethoven writes to his publisher Hoffmeister in Leipzig, first of all thanking him for his kind letter. He praises Hoffmeister's planned edition of Bach's complete works very highly.

Beethoven offers Hoffmeister four of his compositions: the Piano Concerto op. 19, the Septet op. 20, the Symphony op. 21 and the Piano Sonata op. 22. He asks for a total of 70 ducats Viennese currency. Beethoven names two firms via which delivery can be made. Beethoven adds "now the sour business has been completed" and explains that he finds these business dealings very unpleasant. He wishes that he could just deliver his works to a central "Art archive" and in return he would be able to cover his financial need without having to negotiate.

He briefly mentions the Leipzig critics (probably those from the Allgemeine musikalische Zeitung) whose reviews he does not take seriously (but which had annoyed him often enough). Just as they would not be able to immortalize anyone through their "gossip", neither would they be able to take away someone's immortality "as this is decided by Apollo" (Beethoven considered himself to be one of the chosen).