[...] I have here a very talented young musician [Weissheimer], of whom I have expectations, and who is touchingly and self-sacrificingly devoted to me. It would advantage him for life to be provided now with a genuinely good poem as basis for an "opera." I have spoken to him of Wieland. Now tell me, my great politician, do you seriously think of becoming an operatic composer again? Honestly, I don't believe you do! For one thing you do not mention the libretto to me in any way. My opinion is that you will never come to the point of doing it and that, moreover, you doubt if you will yourself! My young friend's needs would be entirely satisfied if only he could exercise and develop his musical talent upon some poetic subject. Therefore, if—hand on heart—you really do not believe that you will ever be able to work out Wieland, I ask you bluntly to send the manuscript back to me here. [...]
[...] My wife has now obtained a full amnesty for me in Dresden. I shall remain quietly here, where I have settled down quite tolerably and—up till now—have had glorious peace for work. This work, however, is at present the tyrant of my life. In every respect, inwardly and outwardly, it is the one thing that can keep me alive. I simply do not know where I can lay hands on a thaler if I have not something new ready for the theatre by next winter. Judge me for the present simply in the light of this necessity! [...]
Source: Letters of Richard Wagner, Vol. 2, selected and ed. Wilhelm Altmann, trans. M. M. Bozman (J. M. Dent & Sons, 1927), No. 525