Dear Mienel,
It is too bad that I should really have nothing to write you from here; I do not even know the programme for our next concert yet, and probably shan't till this evening at Sainton's. Consequently I am only writing lest you should come by evil thoughts if a letter were skipped, though they never do occur to you (do they?). — Nevertheless I have a little trip to tell you of, which I took this last Sunday to Brighton (pronounce, Breiten), where Praeger is spending a few days with his family, and whither he had invited me. Unfortunately it was so windy that I caught a fresh cold on our sea jaunt — the chief amusement there; then I tried to rid myself of the results by sweating, which always makes one still more liable. But the winter will never end here, and — with the exception of a few days — I have been wearing winter clothes for nine full months now — God be praised! — my wadded overcoat, for instance, is on my body almost all the time. The only thing wanting, is for this bad weather to break loose at home when I get back. That prospect exists, to judge by your accounts of the constant fair weather at present; what bliss! — If one could only throw off the habit of life, since it really is made such an affliction! —
That you are passably well again, and seem to be in good spirits, gives me just as much joy as your illness and bad temper (in consequence of that silly money fix) made me uneasy a little while back. So I'm in a somewhat better frame of mind myself. As for Sulzer, whom you appear to be treating extraordinarily harshly, he told me he had placed the whole 250 fr. for April at your disposal; if he really only gave you 150, no doubt it was because he remembered my having left you an advance of 100 fr. before I started. However, that will soon explain itself when I get back, which won't be much longer to wait for. Three weeks from to-day I depart (in the evening); already I feel that I ought to be packing, so absolutely am I in London no longer in spirit. To-day, too, I've come to a stop with my work; I have only reached the end of Wodan's great scene in the 2nd act of the Walküre — horrible to relate! — so that I have instrumented something over 100 pages in all here!! I haven't the smallest relish to begin a new scene here, and shall merely pass the remaining time away with the fair copy and preparations for it. —
By all means you might write to Trüttmann: I want a small room in the old house for my study, and on the Chapel side, that I may have no morning sun; I also should think it as well if you engaged for our parlour and bed-chamber those rooms in the new house, on the other side of it, which Frau Landamtmannin Reding occupied last year, as they are the least exposed to the sun — which, as you know, is a great consideration. —
It would be dreadful if Peps couldn't go out with us any more. He had that lameness in his fore-paw once before, and yet it left him; so I still have hope this time: only do not let him eat too much. God, the thought that one soon must lose the good old chap entirely, makes me quite doleful! — Give him my kindest regards. —
As spinster Breck is making such lovely things for me, I suppose you must give her my regards as well; only don't make them quite too cordial! Apropos of my domestic luxury, I've been led by chance to an increase thereof which mustn't make you cross with me. Praeger's wife saw one of my Paris silk shirts, and declared one could get them still better and cheaper here, as these materials are more largely made here than in France. In brief — she has shewn me samples, and I have bought material for three shirts; which must be made up here, however, as I should have to pay duty otherwise upon the stuff. But set your mind at rest: you too shall have an extra something nice, especially if you behave yourself, and I shall still bring back that 1,000 fr. intact.
I've also had annoying business matters to attend to; Meser, in particular, has cost me a bad day. What a champion piggery that is; it is enough to make one's heart bleed, to see how such a fine and hard-won property is managed! — Lucky I'm not there, God knows! If only the world would accord me at least one thing: my keeping good humour for work; for indeed that's the sole thing I want in the end. —
I know absolutely nothing further of Berlin; but there is ample time for that! The whole thing is terribly indifferent to me at bottom. —
Now wheedle Sulzer into supplying good weather for my return; a Director of Finance on the English model can do anything! As for yourself — be nice and calm, look after your health, lie down and take things easy, don't slave about anything: that I may find you in thorough good condition. Then we'll do nothing but fool around the whole first week. Adieu! A thousand heartfelt greetings and kisses from
Thy R. W.
Source: Richard to Minna Wagner: Letters to His First Wife, trans. William Ashton Ellis, Vol. 1 (H. Grevel & Co., 1909), No. 96