Pièce 31 - Letter from Edward Speyer to Elizabeth Trevelyan

Ridgehurst, Shenley, Herts. - Has a 'great favour to ask': as Donald [Tovey] knows, Beethoven's arrangement of a string quartet from his C minor Piano Trio is to be performed in a forthcoming concert. Would like to include a 'most amusing and interesting story' relating to the piece, which can be found in Thayer's "[Life of] Beethoven" and of which he encloses a typed copy [now no longer present]. As explained to Donald, would like to include a 'translation or adaptation' of this anecdote in a leaflet for the performance, and asks whether she, Bob and Donald could 'get the whole thing into shipshape' for him; another enclosure [also no longer present] is a 'rough translation' by him of Beethoven's 'amusing inscription on the title page' which might be a guide, though it needs improvement. Needs the translation before Donald goes abroad, as it must be printed in September. Love to all from Tonia and himself.