Esteemed Herr General Intendant!
Bearing in mind your kind reassurances, I take the liberty today of informing you of the state of affairs about which I recently had the honor of talking with you personally. During my visit to Weimar, and no less after my return to Zürich, I convinced myself that now the only problem is how to withdraw the previously stated condition of the official collaboration of Herr Liszt at the performance of Tannhäuser in Berlin without exposing to any harm the much-tried friend of my husband. Therefore it would seem most suitable to me if it were made possible for my husband to come to Berlin himself, for this way the former condition would be automatically obviated. Therefore I decided to leave from Weimar for Dresden directly, in order to obtain in the highest quarters the authorization for my husband to return to Germany. Supported by a letter from the Grand Duke of Weimar to the King of Saxony, I was fortunate enough to meet with a favorable reception of my application; however, it was intimated to me that no political action, such as an amnesty, could take place before three months. In case, honored sir, you are really interested in having Tannhäuser performed this winter, you might be in a position to make this possible by being so very kind as to have the appropriate authorities inquire in Dresden whether they would object to Wagner coming to Berlin for a few weeks now, just for the performance of his work. Judging from the atmosphere I encountered in Dresden, I think that I am justified in presuming that such an inquiry, which would reflect honorably upon my husband, might well serve to speed up the amnesty of Wagner, which I so much desire, whereby also any obstacle to the performance of his opera in Berlin would be removed immediately. Incidentally, Wagner would in no way insist upon an official summons to Berlin, neither does he intend to conduct his opera himself; what really matters to him is the permission to be in Berlin at the time of the rehearsals of his work, so that he may serve the spirit of the intended performance by personal contact with the performers, without making any further claims.
Since according to my experience I consider this the only way to get out of the situation regarding Herr Liszt, and since at the same time I could not long more ardently for anything than to see Tannhäuser performed as soon as possible on the brilliant stage which is under your direction, I dare submit this request, encouraged by your great kindness, and assure you that by granting it you would bestow great happiness upon a wife who is deeply worried about the fate of her husband.
Looking forward to a favorable reply I remain with the greatest respect your most devoted
M. W.
Source: Letters of Richard Wagner: The Burrell Collection, ed. John N. Burk (Macmillan, 1950), No. 160