Friday, May 25:
Good letter from Councillor Diifflipp, according to which they seem willing in Munich to buy the machinery. R. replies by return. I visit the British Museum again and take pleasure in the splendid drawings. Afterward rendezvous with R. at Charing Cross and fish dinner in Greenwich.
Return home by steamer, very successful, mild, gray weather, tremendous impression. R. says, “This is Alberich’s dream come true - Nibelheim, world dominion, activity, work, everywhere the oppressive feeling of steam and fog.”
In the evening Tannhäuser in Italian. Oh! All of it terrible, only the orchestra wonderful, but unfortunately directed by a conductor who is not at all good. Our friend Wilhelmj is ill.