Dear Minna!
You will soon receive from Berlin the one and also the other half of the 250 thalers which are due you on April 1st. . . .
Several references in your last letter lead me to remind you once more of my actual status at present. The King has arranged for my apartment and gives me—for three years—4,000 gulden while I complete the composition of my Nibelungen. Out of this annual allowance I am paying you around 1,800 florins (equal to 1,000 thalers), and in addition 350 florins (equal to 200 thalers) to the Krietes. The opinion here that this is an enviable income is due to the local standard of living; their exaggeration of it into the legendary was intended to incite public opinion and turn the King against me. The worst consequence for me in all this is that—even though the King, who knew better what is going on, remained quite unconvinced—claims were raised against me from everywhere and from the remotest times. It is possible that as a consequence of this life will be made miserable for me even here, and that I shall ask the King to let me live peacefully on a smaller pension in some hidden corner of the world. You, too, can—in your way and by correctly judging my position—contribute toward protecting me from such a potential change in my way of living.
What I want is peace at all costs!
With best wishes for your health I remain, with cordial greetings,
always your
Richard
Source: Letters of Richard Wagner: The Burrell Collection, ed. John N. Burk (Macmillan, 1950), No. 279