Dear Herr Dannreuther!
Best thanks! Herr Schlesinger has already been written to. Richter will go to London today. Hodge and Essex give me a lot of trouble. Their management of business is petty, and unsafe for me. I have no payment from them yet. I hardly mention any guarantee, but only expenses that I have to meet from my own pocket. All those engaged by them complain that they remain without contract protection on their part. First they approach the best musicians of Berlin, Vienna, Munich, etc., then they declare they are too expensive for them. You, my dear, may know whether you can do without the Germans or not. If this is possible, I agree! For to get to London from here is no trifle. Probably Wilhelmj put his shoulder too strongly to the wheel in the beginning. The retreat is unpleasant now. Would you be kind enough (I can't speak English and my wife is away) to demand categorically from Hodge and Essex (1) that Frl. Exter and Fr. Waibel get half of the stipulated reimbursement of £50 each as an advance? This therefore means for each lady 500 marks, both together 1,000 marks, to be sent forthwith to Professor J. Hey, 34 Adalbertstrasse, Munich, for payment to both. (2) To the bass singer, Chaudon, 500 marks to be sent instantly, 16 Johannisstrasse, Cologne, demanded in advance. (3) The excellent harpist, royal chamber musician, August Pombo, Hochbrückenstrasse 2, Munich, would like to come to London along with them, expenses only for traveling; 500 marks ought to be granted and half of it (250 marks) to be sent to him. He is excellent and very important.
I am glad about Seidl and Fischer! Kind regards to them.
With me so much is going on that it is hard to keep my countenance. How loathsome that I have to interfere in affairs like those today. And to bother you on top of it! Forgive me and remain favorably inclined to
yours faithfully,
Richard Wagner
Source: Letters of Richard Wagner: The Burrell Collection, ed. John N. Burk (Macmillan, 1950), No. 339