Beethoven's shopping note

Sir, – All Dr John Doherty (January 16th) has to do to resolve the mystery – in part at least – of the contents of Beethoven…

Sir, – All Dr John Doherty (January 16th) has to do to resolve the mystery – in part at least – of the contents of Beethoven’s shopping list is to do a bit of Googling. Four of the items on the list were: soap, a mousetrap, a knife and a metronome. There is also a photograph of the list, but Beethoven’s writing is so spidery that it’s very difficult to make out the words. – Yours, etc,

TOM MAXWELL,

Wilton Crescent,

Wimbledon,

London.

Sir, – Would the subject of Dr. John Doherty’s letter not have been better described as a shopping Liszt? – Yours, etc,

PAUL GRIFFIN,

Kelsey Close,

St Helens,

Merseyside,

England.