Dear Anton!
Let a brief word set you at rest!
I am not accusing anybody for not finding active sympathy for me and my work. I had cordially invited my old friend Wesendonck to come here to become acquainted with my work and my people, so that — if both pleased him — he might do the utmost in his power to help speed on my work. He could not — or would not (?) — come. So, for the second part of it, my request came to nothing. For: out of discussion back and forth, by such persons who have no interest in the thing, there was no advice to be obtained regarding the success of an enterprise for which one can only win a desire to be of aid if one informs oneself in detail concerning the spirit in which the enterprise is being conducted. Whoever has been here has seen how a magnificent thing is being created through careful economy of the limited means placed at our disposal; he has discovered furthermore, and with all possible dispatch, that we are not swerving a hair's breadth from our original design; that the costs of stage equipment, decorations, and personnel are closely determined, and that the most scrupulous business experience takes care that these expenses will not be exceeded. This was already a matter of knowledge to those who until now have given us their confidence unconditionally. I was accordingly anxious to have my old friend Wesendonck take cognizance of all these things personally, and so arrive at a favourable position like that above — for I have had proof that at the right moment he will not shrink from any sacrifice for a goal that arouses his sympathy; this was all of great importance, to be sure, for it was a question here of strength capable of doing a great deal, but which was going astray there.
This effort has now miscarried. Whatever has followed as a result of misunderstanding, that much one will be able to get over. However, none of all this has anything to do with you: indeed, you can see that clearly!
I do not need to demand that you be a witness here yourself: I have never noticed that you impose conditions on me in return for the evidence of your sympathy.
Greetings to your wife and children from me and Cosima!
However — you shall come some time, indeed! I know why.
Good-bye! And continue to be good to
Your ancient friend,
Richard Wagner
Source: The Letters of Richard Wagner to Anton Pusinelli, trans. and ed. Elbert Lenrow (Alfred A. Knopf, 1932), No. 75