[...] My deepest interests as an artist urge me to the speediest possible production of Tristan; to the plan for producing Tannhäuser in Paris—a matter of artistic indifference to me—I am inclined by dislike of knuckling under to my German circumstances. Everything is shaping well for the Parisian plan; it is being taken very seriously and everything is placed at my disposal. The management are building great hopes upon it, and it has become a matter of courtesy between the Emperor [Napoleon] and Princess Metternich. Consequently things are moving, and moving on their own. It has scarcely cost me a step; the thing has been arranged almost entirely behind my back. [...]
—On the other hand, every possible way to a production of Tristan seems to be bolted and barred. The Saxon ambassador here [von Seebach], a very good fellow, is in Dresden at the moment, and will endeavour personally to arrange my affair with the King there. As yet I can scarcely believe in his success. Were that to come, however, and were I shortly to be free to enter Germany, I should not know for the moment of any theatre with the resources necessary for my work. Vienna is in a state of complete decadence, and even Dresden, which offers me the best personnel, might very well remain closed for the moment against my personal co-operation, which is indispensable. [...]
So I shall probably remain riveted to Paris for the time being, where I am as miserable as can be. In sheer mockery, as it were, of my position here, the following trial was laid upon me the other day. A Russian general [von Saburov], director of the Imperial Theatre, came here and laid these alternatives before me: either to go to St. Petersburg next September, stay there the winter, produce Tannhäuser, conduct big concerts and receive 50,000 francs guaranteed, half to be paid at once, or—nothing at all!—Every adjustment, proposed by me to fit in with the performance of Tannhäuser arranged here for the same date, was declared impossible. [...] After all, I could not sell myself so entirely for money's sake. I remained true to Paris, shouldered the incalculable wretchedness of my Parisian life, till the time for the performances of my opera [...] and drifted back to my Newton Street. The street is about to be sunk 3½ metres to bring it to a level with the new boulevard crossing it, but this ghastly circumstance gives me occasion to ease my present situation by cancelling my lease, which they will have to allow me to do, even making me a certain amount of compensation. Accordingly, from October next I shall rent a smaller lodging in town, nearer the Opera, altogether without consideration for peace and comfort, as I must now forsake the Muse for some time to come. [...]
Source: Letters of Richard Wagner, Vol. 2, selected and ed. Wilhelm Altmann, trans. M. M. Bozman (J. M. Dent & Sons, 1927), No. 466