Dear Sir!
The History of the Court Theater in Dresden was just delivered to me. Considering your unmistakably favorable attitude toward my artistic achievements, I regret that in regard to my character you were now and then led into error, that is, inexact statements from the Archives of the Court theater, the only available source to you. So I found on page 536 that I declared myself to be honored to be employed as music director with 1,200 thaler as salary. My carefully kept diary, however, tells me that I never competed for a position in Dresden. When, upon the refusal of the job as music director, a position as conductor was offered to me, I accepted, only after strong persuasion through the widow of C. v. Weber. What you may gather from politely phrased letters can't count very much to one who knows. Besides, as to page 543, I am sorry I have to confirm the literal utterance of the late H. v. Lüttichau, according to my diary: "If Reissiger should take a trip to a watering place and die, in Karlsbad for example, then we would solemnly bring back his corpse to Dresden." Lüttichau was not falsely charged by me.
The letter of mine printed on pages 546 and 547 was caused by the great excitement which Herr Ed. Devrient (whose name is mentioned in a letter) stirred in me by bringing a communication from Lüttichau. He had to report to me that a deputation of the royal orchestra had addressed Lüttichau to demand my removal, whereupon L. reprimanded those gentlemen and refused their unfair demands. Of course I was touched by L.'s action as much as I was taken aback by the reputed attitude of the orchestra. But it happened that my emotion didn't last. For later Hofrath Winkler put it on record—but in a strangely inexact way—and afterward I learned, also by a deputation of the orchestra, that they had not petitioned for my removal but, on the contrary, for apology that they didn't respond to the call of the Court authorities to demand my dismissal. This, of course, entirely changed the view of the matter. The demand that I should keep my position only after having come to an arrangement with my creditors was neutralized by them, for they now desisted from their demands for an immediate payment. This happened in consideration of the fact that their loans were not squandered but used for my three operas Rienzi, Holländer, and Tannhäuser, published by myself. My agent at the time and his successor did a good business with them, whereas I myself had to keep paying until only recently. This incidentally!
I communicate this to you without any further intention. I only wanted you to know those things which you couldn't know. I also ask you not to make this public in any way whatsoever. In regard to my Life, I have provided that after my death it may be presented to the friends of my art for their clear understanding, corroborated by numbers and names.
Sincerely yours
Richard Wagner
Source: Letters of Richard Wagner: The Burrell Collection, ed. John N. Burk (Macmillan, 1950), No. 341