[...] You agree with me as to Härtel's offer; that is as I thought, and it is a confirmation of my right instinct in the matter. Well then—the full score of Siegfried! I feel as safe with you as a child in its mother's lap, you watch over me so well, dearest of friends!
Uhlig is here just now. With very great labour and self-sacrifice, he has saved up enough to be able to visit me in Switzerland. In view of his cool, tranquil and passionless nature I value this young man's faithful adherence and friendship very highly. As a very young musician indeed, his uncommon musical mastery and good judgment attracted my notice in the orchestra at Dresden. Unusual force of character and a stable and virile disposition were traits which drew my closer attention. I opened my doors to him, found him a man self-developed, unaided in circumstances of great penury, and won in him a friend who now, far away from me, makes it the task of his life to serve me to the best of his powers in a way which—the impulses of love being equal in both cases—I can only find surpassed by you with your brilliant genius. Uhlig still has many rough corners and will probably never rub them all down, but even while I have to laugh at his manner I have to respect him too. I am glad that you also were able to accord him notice.—[...] (By the way, Uhlig is, they say, a natural son of the reigning King of Saxony.)—[...]
[...] God, how I delight in my Young Siegfried! He has redeemed me once for all from authorship and journalism! I will establish my health thoroughly this month, so that next month I can throw myself into the music. [...]
Source: Letters of Richard Wagner, Vol. 1, selected and ed. Wilhelm Altmann, trans. M. M. Bozman (J. M. Dent & Sons, 1927), No. 206