[Britten, Benjamin]--Pears, Peter.

about Britten and the progress of his compositions and his performances, to Peter Diamand, their agent and founder and director of the Holland Festival, giving news of Billy Budd, the Spring Symphony, The Prince of the Pagodas,  the genesis of Gloriana, and many other works, enclosing several signed contracts, describing the illness of their manservant Robinson in 1949 ("......Ben...won't conduct the Spring Symphony, definitely, in Vienna. He suggests Krips...He cannot know until Christmas whether "Billy Budd" will be enough advanced for him to leave it...It is now being played through to William Plomer downstairs..."), c. 75 pages, various sizes, most with autograph envelopes, stamped and postmarked, London, Leeds, Bali, Aldeburgh and elsewhere, mostly 1950-1962; two or three from the 1970s

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."

"...Ben is picking up some useful hints for his Ballet which threatens to be entirely Balinese...Ben is at last near the end of the Ballet—Never again, he says –and I heartily echo Never again...Ben has finished the Hardy Songs now and the texts will be coming tomorrow...He was not dangerous at all, but just behaved oddly, played the piano a great deal at 8.0am and appeared in the kitchen in a towel only, asked me to comb his hair, told us Queen Mary was coming to lunch & set out a bottle of champagne, one of burgundy, some orange squash & an empty beer bottle...Ben has had the idea of writing a big opera for the Coronation next June. He & George [Harewood] talked it all over, George asked his cousin [the queen]  if she would like the idea. She said she would....& so Ben is going to do it!..."