 Haydn received the booklet in English in London on his second extended stay in 1795 from his impresario Johann Peter Salomon.According to Haydn, it was passed by a certain Lidley, or perhaps Thomas Linley, and was attributed to him, but may be written by an unknown author.Back in Vienna, Haydn passed it to his friend and sponsor Baron Gottfried van Swieten, who translated and organized it.