Dearest Friend!
Seghers is leaving at this moment—I wasn't able to speak to him earlier. To my surprise I learned from him that he would really like to perform my overtures, but for the present he balks at the copying of the orchestra parts, a matter which the Society has been too poor to carry out. Belloni had written to me previously that the Society would meet the expenses, so I had done nothing more about it. Now, the parts for the Tannhäuser Overture, at least, must be prepared as quickly as possible; I myself can't possibly pay the expenses for the copying here.
So I urgently beseech you, dear Liszt, to have the engraved parts of the Tannhäuser Overture sent here as quickly as possible by Meser in Dresden, where they are published. This must be done by rail as soon as possible so as to minimize the loss of time. Meser should add the duplicate parts, thus:
8 copies of the 1st violin
8 copies of the 2nd violin
4 copies of the viola
12 doublebasses and cellos
I'm not writing directly to Meser, since I don't know whether he would send the needed copies on my request alone; for I no longer have any rights of ownership in my published music, as you know. That is why I turn to you as my intercessor, mediator, or whatever else you may be. Only be kind enough to push the thing through, for time here is very precious to me—needless to say—and I confess that what I have just found out has rather upset me, for it leaves me in the position of not being needed.
Will you forgive me for bothering you again? Whenever I am in need, and something really important comes up, each time I instinctively apply to you. And that's how it is today.
A thousand warm greetings from your faithful and grateful
Richard Wagner
Source: Letters of Richard Wagner: The Burrell Collection, ed. John N. Burk (Macmillan, 1950), No. 85