Most faithful of Wives,
Best thanks for your yesterday's letter. "All right," says the Englishman. I am in a trifle better humour, as I have a rehearsal again the day after to-morrow, and thus can realise why I'm in London. I have bowled the programme over: we shall do the C minor symphony of Beethoven — with a trumpery Mendelssohnian symph. — and also the Euryanthe overture. The gentlemen would be glad to have the Tannhäuser overture at the 4th concert, only we should have to go through it first at the rehearsal for the 3rd, and probably there won't be time for that; consequently I can't yet say for certain. — For the rest, I pursue my lonely life with very few acquaintances: no lord yet, and no lady! — I had bad luck that time with Eschenburg. I and Praeger, he and Gerber started off together, each pair of us taking a cab for the station; after I and Praeger had got there and waited half an hour, we took train for the Crystal Palace, waited and hunted there: in vain! A few days later Eschenburg explained that they believed we all had meant to go to Richmond; so they had gone there, and we to the Crystal Palace. — As for this Palace, you were much in my thoughts there: I really believe you would have been greatly surprised and pleased; it contains absolutely everything one can possibly imagine, and also arranged with much taste. It is indeed a sight to be remembered, and I shall tell you about it by mouth. Edward Röckel has been here on a few days' visit; you know what an agreeable man he is. I passed the time with him quite tolerably; naturally we had a deal to tell each other. He is tremendously busy earning money, and brings it up to 7 or 8 hundred pounds a year, but can't lay any by yet. One evening we were at Sainton's, who played us the violin very beautifully. The second evening we went to a theatre — my first visit: it was a very small suburban theatre — the Marylebone — which has attracted the attention of the press for some time past. They played the Merry Wives of Windsor (Shakespeare), and — as I thought — quite well; at least the performance made a thoroughly interesting impression on me. Then came a ballet, in which a dancer à la Pepita threw up her petticoats and stared at her calves exactly as you had described to me. Then came a big 5-act tragedy, of which we made a present to the good people. For that matter, alas, the house was empty. The English as a rule do not appear to love the theatre. — Yesterday we dined with Praeger close to London Bridge; very good fish and rostbeaf — as much as one liked — for 18 pence, i.e. 1½ schilling: for a wretched bottle of Rhine-wine, on the contrary, we had to pay 8 schilling! It was interesting, how — ere falling to — a gentleman rapped on the table and mumbled grace, to polish off that business also. On our way out the landlord was standing on the steps to take toll. — Röckel sends you kind regards.
For the rest, the season proper is beginning now; to-day we have our first Italian opera, with the Ney from Dresden. You may imagine how eager I am for it! I shall be only too glad when another concert is over; this pause of 3 weeks has been a great infliction.
There will not be much more to write to you about myself; in return, your tidings always rejoice me greatly: only write much! I enjoyed the fine weather here, too; but then came strong wind again, which set all my rheumatism going, so that I have risen quite a cripple every morning. But you are doing well? That would be the pick of the market! By the way, Hülsen hasn't written me yet; an advance of this sort must really be a thing of mighty weight. In a happy event, of course, I shall attend to your orders. — Unfortunately I, too, must spend my birthday by myself this time; but we'll keep its memory on the 6th Septb., won't we? My next birthday in any case we shall be together. You ask me, you good woman, what you shall work for me: a dressing-gown? But you surely won't be wanting to embroider that! Certainly I shall not bring my old one back with me, for it is deep on the decline already, and in a couple of months will absolutely not be worth the carriage. Still, I shan't be needing a new one in the summer, and for the autumn you are to make me a regular beauty; but I can't saddle you with the expenses for that, as you know what luxurious tastes I have in this regard, though you remain my dressing-gown purveyor anyhow. So think out for yourself what else you could make me; I really deserve something madly beautiful. —
Tell Sulzer I'll send him a "substantial" newspaper article so soon as one appears; I have waited in vain till now. But in any case he shall get a very long London letter from me yet; I shall have plenty to write to him, once I commence. Whatever would Boom think of himself here?! — For lack of nobler beings, I relax myself from time to time with Praeger's cat, which is very fond of me. And Pepsel is really so nimble afoot? Röckel was quite amazed that he was still alive. — My work is going slowly forward. Much else, that often passes through my head, I am saving up for word of mouth. I have seen yourself a couple of times already; with the grey cape and lilac bonnet, quite lifelike. My sleep is passable. Your franked letters I have always received with my early coffee, the unfranked not till dinner-time, at 2. I am expecting Klindworth for a promenade to-day; he will feed with me after, which does not cost much more than if I ate alone. I have a ham in the house, too, but I assure you, no champagne; we are to be the first to drink that together again.
I'm glad you think sensibly now concerning London; regarded thus, I shall hold out this time. As to the future, we shall see. — Now, a thorough good farewell again to-day; keep thoroughly well, and think thoroughly well of me. Only believe, too, that I'm heartily fond of you. After the concert I'll write you again. Adieu, good Muzius!
Many greetings to Zurich!
Source: Richard to Minna Wagner: Letters to His First Wife, trans. William Ashton Ellis, Vol. 1 (H. Grevel & Co., 1909), No. 83