alluding to the poor reception of his Beethoven cantata in Paris, contrasting predictions concerning his earlier career as a performer and his present career as a composer, noting that it was predicted that he would never do anything other than smash up all pianos, and disfigure and massacre all music, discussing his librettist Mallefille, not so as to complain about him, for, as he says, he never complains about anyone, but so as to keep him up to date; for much of the rest of the letter, Liszt quotes sections of a letter to him from Mallefille, in which the latter says he is pursuing other projects as he has received no money from him, a version of events which Liszt contradicts, noting further that Mallefille had promised to send him the outline of his opera Sardanapale by February; the composer baulks at complying with his request for 2000 francs, for what amounts to a pig in a poke, and says that he has not yet replied to him, admitting that Mallefille's letter has affected him greatly ("...je ne puis vous dire combine cette lettre de M. m'a péniblement affecté. Quelle raison a-t-il pour me traiter ainsi en Juif? A quoi bon me carotter vulgairement de la sorte? Je ne le comprends guère en verité...

8 pages, 8vo (20.8 x 13.7cm), with some autograph cancellations, [Vienna, 21 May 1846], lacking the conclusion and signature

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing where appropriate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Although incomplete, this letter sheds light on Liszt's unfinished opera Sardanapale. The concluding leaf of this letter, where Liszt discusses his literary activity, was sold in these rooms on 1 December 1995, lot 206.