Ludwig van Beethoven, Brief an Ferdinand Ries in London, Wien, 20. Januar 1816, Autograph

Beethoven happily tells his friend Ries in London that his letter regarding receipt of the works (piano reductions of op. 91 and op. 92) for the English publisher Birchall has arrived.

However, he will send Birchall an invoice for the very high postage costs and copying costs. Beethoven says that Charles Neate will bring the overtures (op. 115, overtures for op. 113 and op. 117) with him when he returns to England. The musician Neate had visited Beethoven in Vienna and taken back some compositions by Beethoven for the London Philharmonic Society.

The piano reduction of the Symphony op. 92 is dedicated to the Russian Empress. It should be published at the same time as the Viennese edition. Beethoven says that two further works (op. 96 and op. 97) will be sent with the next mail coach; the violin sonata may be published in May but the piano trio may only be published later.

Beethoven thanks Ries for his help with the negotiations with Birchall, in particular for the corrections Ries has carried out. From 1813 onwards Ries lived in London and undertook many negotiations with publishers as well as other tasks to do with the publication of works for Beethoven. He did so out of friendship.