[...] Well, you may believe me or you may not, but the one wish I am conscious of now is to get to see you soon! [...] I lack music too—and God knows, only you can give it me! I feel what a wretched performer I am, whereas I believe I have discovered that you are the greatest pianist of all time. That will be news indeed to you!
Farewell! Tell Marie I have been at the old red pocket-book again and have got my biography into shape down to December 1st, 1856.
Source: Letters of Richard Wagner, Vol. 1, selected and ed. Wilhelm Altmann, trans. M. M. Bozman (J. M. Dent & Sons, 1927), No. 321