My Dear Good Friend!
You will have received my bust: may it give you joy! — I have received, via Berlin, very alarming news concerning the state of my wife's health. This has prevented a step I had in mind, to have my wife seriously warned to stop her continued outrageous calumnies on my life, failing which I should have been obliged to take severe measures against this. Now there is nothing left for me but sadly to concern myself about the fate of the lamentable woman. Since I am told of her great feebleness, I have had the idea — for the sake of precaution — of not sending her next quarter's allowance directly to her. Therefore be kind enough to employ on behalf of my wife, according to circumstances, the enclosed draft made payable to you, the value of which is destined for her. — If it can make a kind impression on the sufferer, tell her also of my sincere anxiety concerning her. Tell her, too, that in all her suffering she should console herself with the thought of me, whose destiny remains ever exposed to the most fatiguing agitation and worry, and whose reassurance is made complete by the fact that she at last is not obliged to share directly in this. — I am now about to withdraw for several months to Vevey, on Lake Geneva, since the climate here has become very troublesome to me and it is necessary to get away from the most unheard-of tumult.
Now, my true, noble, dearly loved friend, let me thank you for all the kindness you have constantly shown me. In the history of my life you will shine forth in a way that is bright and beautiful, warm and friendly!
Greet your dear ones and remain for ever the friend of
Your friend,
Richard Wagner
I am opening this in order to ask the kind favour of you, to arrange for a new passport in place of the old one which has expired. I shall always remain a Saxon, and at all events my passport can be issued with the least difficulty only in Saxony. Please, then, for another three years, exactly like the old one! — To this place!
Your
Rich.
Source: The Letters of Richard Wagner to Anton Pusinelli, trans. and ed. Elbert Lenrow (Alfred A. Knopf, 1932), No. 41