Dear Natalie!
I'm sorry to have left you in uncertainty about myself for some time. I've had to experience many unpleasant things; also, because of various changes in my circumstances, I find myself forced to tell you that I'm really no longer able to send you the regular allowance as I did when you were single. Let me, however, assure you of my help in an emergency; I can propose to help you only in those cases as much as is possible, since my regular income is not nearly sufficient to take care of my likewise regular, most immediate obligations. This will soon become quite apparent to you. But to show you that I continue to think of you, I'll tell you that recently I took the first opportunity to send you a small, but supplementary sum. The Chemnitz Theater must pay me ten louis d'or for Rienzi, which is scheduled to be given: I have directed that this be sent to you, and for that purpose I have given Kapellmeister R. Schöneck in Chemnitz your address. Should they delay the matter too long from there, I advise you to go to Wolfram and ask him to remind Kapellmeister Schöneck, or the manager, Langer himself, to fulfill his obligation. Be sure to give your exact address.
May you thus recognize my good will always to prove my faithfulness and interest in you! I also thank you for the last present from you to reach me, and wish above all that you may continue to be happy and content in your marriage. Give my best regards to your dear husband and always keep in your kind memory your true
brother-in-law,
Richard Wagner
Source: Letters of Richard Wagner: The Burrell Collection, ed. John N. Burk (Macmillan, 1950), No. 303