[...] The King's signature has just arrived. He gives us credit amounting to 100,000 thalers upon his own private exchequer, wherewith for the time being to meet the cost of staging, scenery and the instalment of gas-lighting. While this credit runs, all money coming in from patrons is to be credited to the Royal Exchequer till the sum advanced is covered, and, until then, the purchases mentioned are to be the property of the Royal Secretariat. This is the bargain.
You will see from this that we are now in a position to go forward, but that we receive no actual contribution and are thrown back, now as formerly, on the interest of the public to make our enterprise really possible.
Now in all that you say, write or publish on the subject I want to ask you to use the caution and foresight necessary to promote two ends: (1) by representing the assistance we have received as surety that our enterprise will actually take place; (2) by avoiding giving the impression that there is no longer any need to help us.
We think it best, then, simply to announce the actual fact, namely that very binding contracts have been concluded with the painter, Hoffmann of Vienna, and with the Court Theatre machinist, Brandt, for scenery and stage appliances, to be completed as speedily as possible.
I think this will be sufficient to obviate all objections. I myself am about to write to the singers I have selected and to give orders about the orchestra, and all this will soon lend a different aspect to the business. [...]
Source: Letters of Richard Wagner, Vol. 2, selected and ed. Wilhelm Altmann, trans. M. M. Bozman (J. M. Dent & Sons, 1927), No. 666