No, good Mutz, I'm not provoked against you, but only very much concerned about you, about our future. I know that peace can only come from within, and therefore feel unhappy when such thoughts as "God's punishment for insults put upon you," and the like dark and passionate fancies, are still so alive in you. After all, however, it is scarcely to be expected that you should already be quite clear and composed. Were I a colder, more phlegmatic being myself, no doubt I should be able to judge all this at every moment in the same way as I know how to take it when I allow a little time to pass; but unfortunately I myself — who have so few agreeable or encouraging experiences, and always am over-exerting myself — am often so irritable and touchy that I cannot maintain the needful cold-bloodedness, and then I tell you frankly. But now that my mind has grown clear again on this, I beg you to regard my last complaint as unuttered, and let everything rest on itself; which is better than its weighing on us! — What gives me most hope for our future, and even most delight for the present, is the progress in your own condition. You can't think how that revives me, and how I thank Heaven when I hear anything so comforting as Pusinelli's last report, and now your yesterday's. Only keep on that way! Everything, everything will then go well and happily; I know it! —
I should have quite a lot to talk about with you, and should so like a pleasant hour's chat; I always lose my patience with this curs. — writing. Therefore I must be a trifle briefer than I otherwise could wish. So, in the first place: — I really would rather not go to Wille's. Lord knows, I had only cast my eye on the convenience of board and lodging for my unfortunate work, also a little no doubt on the saving, but overlooked at first the difficulty of quite avoiding Zurich, which could scarcely have been escaped in the end; even the callers from town would have gened me, and in the long run it would have been very conspicuous, and afforded fresh food for remarks, if I had so carefully avoided Zurich. That would never have done, and as I also haven't a spark of affection for Zurich now — for which no one can blame me — I have definitely declined with thanks. Consequently you were quite right to leave me that to settle with myself; believe me, you did thoroughly right, and I thank you much for this reserve of yours. I only needed to think it well over, to recognise that such a visit would have yielded me more annoyance, than tranquillity for work. Moreover, when I once have shut a place behind me, as you know, I've done with it.
But Switzerland will be most refreshing to me now, and I'm longing much for mountain trips. Well, the Lake of Geneva is quite unsympathetic to me; it's no true Switzerland, the whole length of the shore nothing but wearisome vineyards, and only the one fine distant view. I shouldn't know where to go there; all is stiff. On the other hand, Lucerne pleased me greatly last summer, and you know my penchant for the Vierwaldstätter See in general. There I have observed quite lovely summer-houses, with pension, on the verge of the forest. In the months of April, May, and June, there are no strangers as yet, and I fancy I quickly could find what I want there with little pains; perhaps even at Brunnen itself. So — my work here is nearing its end, and in any case I think of being on the move before the end of this month. Probably I shall send the piano off a little earlier, so that I may feel at home in my new quarters at once, and ready for work. If the sky doesn't fall in, I thus hope for good undisturbed work at the third act, and once that is finished — I am free as a king; for I then shall have unloaded for a longish time, and can devote myself exclusively to outward activity again. For my recreation I am vastly looking forward to the Rigi and Pilatus, which I think of duly riding up on horse-back. Then excursions to Brunnen, Seelisberg, and — na! who knows if our little summer-house at Brunnen mayn't come true after all! —
But now for the big fish! — Fie, Mutz, don't speak so disrespectfully of America! — Don't be alarmed, but — it's something to think of. Five months might easily be flung away, if I could thereby make us free and independent for the rest of our life. And that might be done as follows. If they guarantee me so much that, after deducting the cost of maintenance and journey (which latter is free), I could bring back 50 to 60,000 fr. net, we should have a sure and handsome income for five years, could put aside all other takings during those five years, and thus reserve ourselves our 10 to 12,000 fr. annually for a number of years beyond. The advantage of which would be, that one would always know exactly how much one had a year, and when one could touch it; whereas the present haphazard style of income remains so disconcerting even if one ends by getting in enough. Besides that main condition, however, I have set up the following: Klindworth as second conductor at 10,000 fr. — I only for my own operas; 5000 fr. to be prepaid at once in Europe, the remainder to be deposited with a business firm in New York; liberty to conduct concerts in Philadelphia and Boston (where they already are enthusiastically interested in me). By the way, do not exaggerate the cost of living; if I got through in London with 500 fr. a month, I'm sure to do it in New York with 1000 fr.: one has the very best pension there for 10 to 12 fr. a day.
Well, you may readily imagine that nothing save the prospect of so momentous a result as I have just described could have induced me to take the thing into somewhat more serious consideration; for it is an infamous suggestion to me otherwise, to make such an abominable journey. You can imagine that, no doubt. Therefore I have also knocked at another door, in order, if it opens to me, to be able to leave New York on one side with good conscience even if all my conditions are fulfilled. Now admire your husband's cunning! I have written to Paris and given the director of the Théâtre lyrique to understand that, if he doesn't at once decide on mounting Tannhäuser (or Rienzi) for next season, fulfil all my conditions, and pay down 5000 fr. premium (in addition to the tantièmes), he would never have an opera of mine for his theatre (for I should then go to America for the winter, and come calmly back to Paris, with my American money in my pocket, to push the production of my operas at the "Grand Opera" con amore); and I shall keep my word. So I mean to see what the man will decide upon. If he satisfies me — good! Then valet America! Then I shall have things more convenient and closer, pretty much the same pecuniary result, and both of us will be comfortably seated in Paris this next winter. Naturally I should like that best. If on the other hand it didn't come off, whilst the New York director fulfilled all my conditions, then it would be a case of biting at another sour apple to be master of my own position from that time forth. We two should meet at Carlsruhe, you would accompany me to Paris, where you might really do best to continue straight off, and could get everything nicely into place after your own mind during my last journey, so that on my return in the Spring I might find the new home all in apple-pie order and comfort — for which I'm longing so. Ha, how will you feel when I slip a matter of 10,000 fr. into your hand, and say: "Here, Mutz, now go and rig us nicely up!"
I am only afraid I shall develop into a terrible miser in time, I've such a passion to become a rentier! — For the present, however, we won't go into all that stuff, nor do anything precipitate, but make ourselves thoroughly acquainted with everything. The final hard-bought and slowly to-be-won last comfort of our old age depends upon it! — Nothing is decided yet; everything just merely plans: but — you surely must admit there's something in it. — My mind is thoroughly made up for Paris. There alone can I be of any considerable use to myself now; things in Germany will go at a pinch (especially as regards receipts) without my person. If I have the amnesty — so much the better; for I could run over whenever it's a question of anything out of the ordinary. But it revolts me now, to think of settling permanently in any such a German Gotham. In Paris one can live so immensely sans gêne. An agreeable dwelling would be the chief point, one where you also would have something to look at — on to the Champs Élysées, for instance, where Fipsel can also amuse himself. In short, I intend having a good time in my old age yet (for I have a terrible amount of grey hairs!), and you, old girl, shall have it too. —
Now a little hasty business! —
Meser — Kriete — lawyer Schmidt and the rest — if I only could — them all!! However, here's for another go at that hash!
Enclosed find a billet to Kriete — read it, and then seal it. — A second to Herr Müller, Meser's worthy successor: — read that also, then close it and ask Papa Fischer to hand it himself to the gentleman so as to receive a prompt answer, i.e. the declaration, which I beg you then to despatch forthwith to Breitkopf and Härtel in Leipzig. This tag-rag makes me altogether frantic. Lucky that Härtels have declared their readiness to engrave the Tannhäuser full score anew; otherwise I shouldn't know where to procure any from. A. Müller has written me now, tho', that he will send his and Boom's copy to Fischer. —
I certainly could not suppose you hadn't read that splendid letter I was asked to write the King of Saxony; consequently I return it to you, as I may firmly hope it will give you great amusement, and you will then understand the humour it put me in. Believe me, I have done the best thing in this matter now, and accordingly also — the last. I shall do nothing further, and never mind if they don't amnesty me, I know (as you see) how to shift for myself! — The Serre broth another time; one shouldn't undertake too much at once!
Karl told me the other day that he isn't expecting his wife now; I don't know what is up about his pass, and in general can't quite make him out. So wait for my further instructions about the Rheingold. — Winterberger left for Rome two hours ago; he made a fine hullaballoo taking leave of me! This whole tribe really seems to get fond of me! Apparently I shall leave Karl behind here; he would like to finish his new piece before he decides on his next step, which I think very sensible. For myself, work this time is driving me forth; nor should I care to wait here for the war. We'll come to an understanding about the future revolutions in Paris another day; till then continue doing honour to your dear doctor, and joy to your good man! Ah, if I find you quite well and good in half a year, I'll carve Pusinelli in marble! — Fare terribly well, embrace Fips and Jacquot, and give Nette my respects. Shoot the bolt nicely on Julius! Don't trust Lüttichau too far, for after all he's — a courtier! Don't learn to jewdel (jüdeln) at Auerbach's; rather get the Devrient to teach you to yodel (jodeln). And above all, love, honour and esteem
Thy beautiful grey Husband R.
Source: Richard to Minna Wagner: Letters to His First Wife, trans. William Ashton Ellis, Vol. 2 (Charles Scribner's Sons, 1909), No. 164