Dearest Minna!
Here I am, moved in again—only to move out in four weeks. I confess I am completely dizzy with this eternal packing and unpacking and moving.
Even today I can write you only a very little, for I've just gotten around to it—after unpacking—and then I want to hurry out to get you a draft for 200 thaler. It must get to the post office in time. And then I'll have to write to everyone to whom I made known my new address yesterday (Lucerne and Leipzig), because I found out today that I wrote one r too many, which could easily cause confusion. The name is Matignon—not Martignon. Be sure to remember this.
Now for my adventures in brief. I was pleased most of all to see Sulzer, whom I visited in Winterthur. His boy is splendid, the image of his father. He gives him great joy. I could not yet judge the smallest—a little girl. He seemed very well and in good humor and promised me to come to Karlsruhe. In Zurich I took care of my business with Heim. The store has been sold to the railroad, but our things will remain undisturbed until I send for them. But if they are left there any longer they should be opened up and aired, because otherwise they would be injured by the dampness. But I think we'll soon have them sent. I found the Herweghs in the same old predicament: they were supposed to move and had no other quarters yet, so there was much excitement. But I just rushed through there and hurried to Strassburg to wait for Devrient, who finally had to notify me by letter that his opera manager had become sick and he had to direct the rehearsals of the new Coburg opera for him, so he could not come. As soon as I get a chance I'll arrange everything with him by letter.
Here I have not yet seen anybody, but I've just rested and become excited all over again, and looked for a furnished room for myself. I found one which is very pleasantly situated and also—relatively—cheap, because as yet there are no outsiders here. That's why I got it for only one month; because after that it will be rented only for the whole winter, and then—terribly expensively—so that I've immediately given up the thought of living with you in a furnished room. On the other hand I have hopes of finding an unfurnished apartment which is not exorbitant; and anyway, since this is the renting season, we can do nothing but rent something of this sort, since we can't count on Karlsruhe without sufficient guarantees. Therefore I'll look around; I think Mad. Hérold should be quite helpful in this matter. Although I'm still very much dazed, I have the feeling that we'll like it. The nearness of the Champs Élysées is invaluable for walks and for Fips. No rough pavement—little noise. Well, we shall see. And more about this soon.
What I wanted to ask you: make an intensive search for a decent young girl (who also speaks French) as companion and nurse for you. It means everything to me to make your life easy and painless, and I'm glad to see that I'll have the means for it. For my sake do everything possible to find a woman like that who is agreeable to you: I shrink from no sacrifices for this—this time I have received no answer at all from Moudin about poor Nette (!). But I found out from Heine that my friend, Professor Fröhlich in Berne, has an institute just like it. I'll go to him now and can be pretty sure to receive a favorable reply from him. That is very agreeable to me.
Well, now—here is a draft for 200 thaler. My good Minna, I think you'll get along with this until we meet again. Make everything easy and comfortable for yourself. But if this should not be sufficient either, I'll have more ready. I simply want you to have everything: this makes me happy!
I'll answer your letter more fully the next time. Now I'll await your Strassburg letter which will be forwarded to me here.
An affectionate farewell for today: be assured of my unalterable, most loving care, and make me happy with encouraging news about your condition!
Adieu, good Mutz!
Your
Richel
Dear Minna! I write this postscript at Rothschilds'. They issue no drafts, but listen: You only have to go to Kaskel and identify yourself, then you'll get 200 thaler. Whenever you want. So do it!
Source: Letters of Richard Wagner: The Burrell Collection, ed. John N. Burk (Macmillan, 1950), No. 207