[...] It was, in a sense, something new to me that this time not a soul has helped nor could have helped me, and I see that I must now deal with my fate on different lines. Just at present I am not occupied with The Mastersingers, but with the arrangement of pieces from my other works as yet unknown to the public (The Nibelungs in particular), for the purpose of giving big concerts, which I shall shortly launch in Vienna. In spite of the newspapers, I am not thinking seriously of Tristan there, as Ander is in just the same case as he was a year ago. Consequently, I must try something else. The upshot is that for the moment I am crushed to earth by necessary preparatory work for the concerts. I shall be glad, indeed, if I have got through enough to be able to leave here by the date of the final rehearsal for the Leipzig concert. Pleasant gatherings with relatives and old friends are scarcely to be thought of under these conditions.
Hard as your life seems to you, believe me, mine is harder still. All the wants and embarrassments from which you suffer, bear for me the added reproach that I bring them upon you, whereas in this respect you know you are always perfectly blameless towards me. [...]
Source: Letters of Richard Wagner, Vol. 2, selected and ed. Wilhelm Altmann, trans. M. M. Bozman (J. M. Dent & Sons, 1927), No. 541