You entirely good Mienel of mine,
I really must send you a letter, even if there cannot be much in it. — I have just been slightly resting off the last rehearsal I ever am like to have held of a concert, it pulls me so utterly down now. In thought I left England long since, of which I therefore shall have seen but little. I don't believe I shall even get to Richmond still; but it also is quite immaterial to me. So wretched a life as I have enjoyed here these 4 months can only conclude with sheer disdain. —
Such a cold wind has been blowing the last few days, that my catarrh has become wholly unbearable. By Praeger's advice I am taking a daily aperient now. Finally the rheum has invaded my nose, in such force as to make me already fear getting my Face-rose eruption again. That flower would be the only one still lacking in the garden of my London joys! Indeed it is a deuced dog's life I have led here; I can't look back on it with any other feeling than upon a hell. But this latest lesson no doubt will leave some fruit behind it — I think and hope so! —
Well — what more shall I write you from this loathsome hole? — I know of nothing better than the assurance that on Tuesday (the evening of the day on which you uncover these lines) I shall be clearing out; whilst a week from to-day I shall have drunk coffee and eaten my dinner already in the arms of my children and on the neck of my spouse: — so — all in fact is well. Now see that that spouse is thoroughly well herself, in good health and good humour, that I may have the whole delight I wish in her! Be on your best behaviour, take good care of yourself this remaining week, that we poor souls may reunite in thorough gladness.
Tuesday I probably shall write once more, ere starting; if not, I shall write from Paris.
Fare 1000000 times well, and hold me 30000000 times dear! —
Kind greetings to our good friends from
Thy RRRRichard.
Thanks for Schmidt's letter. I expect to write him yet from here.
Source: Richard to Minna Wagner: Letters to His First Wife, trans. William Ashton Ellis, Vol. 1 (H. Grevel & Co., 1909), No. 102