Dear Friend,
Great Theatre-director!
It occurs to me that you may have been surprised at my not addressing my invitation to a meeting of my Patrons to yourself in the first place.
Let us hope you understand that my regard for your very difficult present position at Mannheim was my only reason. In fact I shall quite comprehend, if you don't come to Bayreuth at all, since none can judge better than myself what a load you have bound to your neck with this Mannheim theatre. If you come to Bayreuth nevertheless, rest assured that I shall call no one more welcome here, than — my dear, good friend Heckel!
Best greetings from
Yours sincerely
Richard Wagner.
Source: Letters of Richard Wagner to Emil Heckel, with a Brief History of the Bayreuth Festivals, trans. William Ashton Ellis (Grant Richards, 1899), No. 77