Dearest friend,
There are certain persons who invariably lay themselves open to suspicion! But that will soon right itself. For today, I wish you an easy deliverance of all your labors and herewith send you the two latest numbers of my essay On Conducting to help in assuaging your pains.
The crest turned out very well and we have every reason to be grateful to you for the careful attention you gave the matter. However, I still have the same misgivings in regard to the vulture, which unquestionably will be taken for an eagle at the first glance. This may be easily explained by referring to any reliable work on natural history and establishing the fact that there is a so-called "monk-vulture" closely resembling an eagle. It is of the greatest importance, on account of the associations, that the "vulture" be instantly recognizable, and for this reason we beg that you secure the best available picture of such a beast and instruct the engraver to hang the characteristic ruff of the vulture around the neck of our bird. I realize the difficulties connected with such a change in the design, but hope that it may be found possible of execution.
I quite agree with you in the choice of the paper to be used for all the copies, of which only TWELVE are to be struck off. I find that this will be sufficient for my present needs, as aside from my anxiety in regard to the preservation of my manuscript, I am only concerned about safe-guarding it from abuse. Under these conditions, these twelve copies should possess genuine historic value.
We have nothing but catarrh and grippe here. Wretched weather and air like that in a hermetically sealed peasant's hut. My work moves along slowly and laboriously.
I am still having difficulties with my young monarch; I anticipate no good results from the matter and fear that great vexation of spirit is again in store for me. The Academy has sent—but you already know that? Therefore, the essay On Conducting is not to be dedicated to the Academy.
Furthermore, I hope for the speedy and satisfactory adjustment of many trying domestic relations, so that even the "world" will not be obliged to shake its head over us much longer.
In the meantime, Plato has again been called to the rescue. Yesterday we finished reading Theaetetus, and in February we mean to have a good look at Socrates and Euripides, to which I look forward with delight. Therefore, be of good cheer like a real Prussian cavalryman!
Cordial greetings.
Source: The Nietzsche-Wagner Correspondence, ed. Elizabeth Foerster-Nietzsche, trans. Caroline V. Kerr (Boni and Liveright, 1921), No. 6