Most Honoured Friend,
I hope Herr Fischer has shown you my last letter to him: for the chief part of it was at the same time addressed to you, and I therefore considered it unnecessary, and perhaps wearisome, to write also to you in particular. You will have perceived from that letter my state of mind with regard to the fresh great adjournment of the performance of my opera. The manner in which Herr Fischer informed me of this excessively unpleasant decision was so convincing to me, and at the same time it so clearly expressed a warm interest for the success of my work, that I must have been more than a fool if I had chosen to reject the reasons assigned. On the contrary, I owe my fullest thanks to all who under such circumstances pressed for a delay; and for this fresh proof of friendly intention, I should like to be able right soon to manifest my deepest gratitude.
In any case, my worthy friend, I hope to see you shortly: I cannot endure Paris any more, and I pant for German soil. At the same time, the not altogether satisfactory state of my wife's health makes it my duty to conduct her this summer to the Teplitz baths, which have been so universally recommended to her. Thus, all things taken together, I am anxious to stay somewhere more in the neighbourhood of Dresden; for however little weight I may ascribe to my personal influence in my affair, yet it will be a great comfort to me to be nearer to the whole thing. I hope, however, that the last resolve, to put my opera into rehearsal immediately after the return of Devrient, will be adhered to! And on this supposition I venture to assume that many things will now be quietly attended to, which may render the work easier later on? Meanwhile, there is no necessity for me to touch further on all these matters: before the proper time approaches, I shall have seen you, and discussed everything with you by word of mouth.
How is your valued family, dear Herr Heine? We take for granted that the evil demon of sickness has vanished from your hearth, and that little Marie is fully restored to health. Friend Kietz, whose voluminous letter I have to thank for the enclosure of these lines, will probably give you much and sundry news about himself: Delaroche's portrait shines at the exhibition since yesterday — may it only prove of some use to the poor fellow! We must have a good talk about him and his interests, when we sit together in Dresden: his position is none of the best; and, considering how hard he is now put to it, it would be far better for him to be in Germany again. However, he does not wish to return until he has somewhat perfected himself in this and that — in which he is right; but without money he can accomplish neither the one thing nor the other.
I am very uneasy about Reissiger: I have sent him a number of letters, but he has not answered a single word. I sent to him and Herr Lewy a copy of the Gazette Musicale, in which I had managed to get in a réclame about them both; I presumed that would not displease Reissiger, and would perhaps force him to show a sign of life. However, he remains stone-dead!
As to yourself, only remain alive and warm to me, and Heaven grant you some little rest for your refreshment; perhaps near you I too might then partake thereof. Councillor W. wrote me lately: "Every one is rushing away from here — Devrient goes to St. Petersburg, Frau Schröder to Berlin, etc. Would that one could take flight too! I think of taking mine to Upper Italy next May!" (The Flying Councillor strikes me as very comical.)
So I will fly to Saxony — and selfishly enough! I only hope that you may not fly away from there before me.
Cordial greeting to Herr Fischer, and a thousand good wishes for your prosperity from your grateful friend,
Richard Wagner.
Source: Richard Wagner's Letters to His Dresden Friends, Theodor Uhlig, Wilhelm Fischer, and Ferdinand Heine, trans. J. S. Shedlock (Scribner & Welford, 1890), No. 157