Dearest!
I wrote to you yesterday! To-day I answer briefly what is necessary in reply to your letter just received.
It is all right about Carlsruhe, although E. Devrient may not have said anything yet about the honorarium, which, for the rest, is a subordinate matter here.
Please have some more scores in readiness: you will shortly have to send off a good number again. How are matters with Darmstadt?
In Hamburg they wanted the Tannhäuser on terms of a royalty: thereupon I asked for fifty louis d'or in advance (because I place no trust in the fellows). They asked me to desist from this demand, whereon I do not intend to answer them at all.
Things are moving too in Austria: for example, Gratz! (stupid affair!). I am glad that the royal Saxon police make it impossible for me to attend the representations of my operas, which would only cause me vexation!
What are we to do with Anton Apt in Prague? As I am no longer thinking of any performances of Rienzi, I fancy we might let him have a score — but only in return for twenty-five thalers (for every copy has cost me about this sum). If he sends the money, give it to my old mother-in-law (Mad. Planer, Herzogin-Garten, No. 7). If the price is too high for him, I will lend him, on my behalf, a copy for a time. Get books of words only from X.: they are quite the same. Whenever shall I learn something about the state of the business?!!! That X. still continues to dilly-dally, I see from the fact that a pianoforte score of the Flying Dutchman was lately ordered from here, and though four weeks have passed it has not yet come. Of promptitude he knows nothing — and how important is this for the market!
As soon as the ten louis d'or prove insufficient, let me know; I will then either forward your money, or direct that the next honorarium-payment be made to you!
May the all-good God preserve you, you Lion! When shall I get any more news about Hi Ha Heine? The portrait has turned out very well; the lady-painter especially is very pleased with it.
I find the eyebrows and the mouth too strongly marked. Yes — my goodness! if I had such eyebrows, I should be quite another fellow, a second L.!
Now, enjoy your cray-fish (Krebse gut). I am delighted with Wilhelm's letter!
Kindest greetings from both of us!
Your
R. W.
Please get the new ending done at once for Carlsruhe.
(See yesterday's letter!)
Source: Richard Wagner's Letters to His Dresden Friends, Theodor Uhlig, Wilhelm Fischer, and Ferdinand Heine, trans. J. S. Shedlock (Scribner & Welford, 1890), No. 119