[...] I cannot help seeing from your intimations that the non-delivery of the letter you entrusted to me for the King of Bavaria has been a service to you. A few weeks ago I was still pondering what should be done with it. The immaturity of the young Prince in matters political has become so clear to me, that for the present I have abandoned any attempt to guide myself by his judgment in this respect. Through the impudent dealings of the real political ruler of Bavaria, you will yourself have perceived how childish is the young man in these matters; but, nevertheless, I regard him as promising in the highest degree. I need not explain this further to you. The higher statecraft is for the present the domain of a very base bureaucracy. The imaginative lad fears this ugly piece of machinery, and his fear is just now expressed as a kind of timid respect. But let us wait. [...] My personal position has not been particularly pleasant. Very affecting proofs of the King's great love for me and his wish that I should contemplate no other permanent home than that I had begun to make in Munich shook my decision to turn my back on Munich altogether. The gentlemen in Munich appear to have been horrified by the expression of the King's wishes in this respect. They trotted out Master Pfordten again, and made him renew his threat to the King to resign his portfolio on my return—an eventuality which "at the present acute crisis in affairs would undoubtedly bring the greatest misfortune upon Bavaria." I have now been fortunate enough to find [...] a country-house here which suits me, and have rented it for a year. Therefore I shall be able to take up my work again with creative zest. The King, who learnt of the change recently, was utterly dismayed by the news and entreated me, with beautiful and really inspiring devotion, to go at once to one of his castles in Upper Bavaria, there to wait a few months until I could move back undisturbed into my house in Munich. It cost me a hard struggle with my feelings to abide by my decision, and so to inform the splendid young man. Still—it is settled now. However difficult and incalculable may be the development of this young and talented German Prince before he attains the full maturity destined for the salvation of the German people, my faith in him—but only in him—will continue unshakable. The key to that which moves him, makes out his course and predestines him for greatness, is not in the pocket of Herr von der Pfordten—of that I can assure you. But, believing as I do that I am infinitely nearer his heart than, for instance, even his precious Minister for Foreign Affairs, you will have no difficulty in seeing that in order to serve a high and exalted end (the attainment of which is the only object which might permissibly influence me to any kind of compromise), I am exceedingly unlikely to consider a compromise with Herr von der Pfordten. Whom this remarkable parvenu serves he may perhaps know himself—or perhaps he does not know—but I know and the knowledge is depressing.
[...] I find it a beautiful and encouraging sign that you are satisfied with the recognition of your spiritual efficacy. It gives me personal hope, too; for one thing grows ever clearer to me, namely that the ideal of my art stands and falls with the rebirth and the welfare of Germany. The former can only flourish in the latter! Let us work together, then, and let us hope earnestly that we may soon be able to join hands permanently on a worthy platform of common usefulness. [...]
Source: Letters of Richard Wagner, Vol. 2, selected and ed. Wilhelm Altmann, trans. M. M. Bozman (J. M. Dent & Sons, 1927), No. 616