Dear friend,
In answer to your letter, I have remitted one hundred thalers to your wife at Dresden. This sum has been handed to me by an admirer of Tannhäuser, whom you do not know, and who has specially asked me not to name him to you.
With Y. B., who paid me a visit yesterday, I talked over your position at length. I hope his family will take an active interest in your affairs.
All the scores (excepting the overture to Faust) I sent to Zurich last week. The separation from your Lohengrin was difficult to me. The more I enter into its conception and masterly execution, the higher rises my enthusiasm for this extraordinary work. Forgive my wretched pusillanimity if I still have some doubt as to the wholly satisfactory result of the performance.
Permit me one question: Do you not think it advisable to add to Tannhäuser a dedication (post scriptum) to the Lord of Wartburg, H.R.H. Carl Alexander, Hereditary Grand Duke of Saxe-Weymar-Eisenach?
If you agree to this, have a very simple plate to that effect engraved, and send me in advance, together with your next letter, a few lines to the Hereditary Grand Duke, which I shall hand to him at once. For the present you must expect no special donation in return, but the sympathy of the prince for your masterpiece fully justifies this attention.
Friendly greetings to Alexander Müller, to whom I am still very grateful for his friendly reception at Zurich. If you should see J. E., assure him of my sincere interest in his further welfare.
He is an honest, able, excellent man.
Hold me in kind remembrance, even as I am cordially devoted to you.
P.S.—Be careful in your articles in the newspapers to omit all political allusions to Germany, and leave royal princes alone. In case there should be an opportunity of paying Weymar a modest compliment en passant, give free vent to your reminiscences with the necessary kid gloves.
Source: Project Gutenberg eBook #3835, Correspondence of Wagner and Liszt — Volume 1, No. 24