Dear Minna,
You will be astonished at this empty letter: judge how painful it must be to myself, to have to appear in this guise on your Birthday. I had been hoping to be able to send you the money for your Dresden furnishing to-day: I cannot even send you what is needed for your everyday expenses, and must address you the distasteful prayer to borrow your next few days' requirements from one of your lady friends (I specially beseech Mathilde). I trust this latest pinch will only last a few days longer. Times have been very hard with me, and I should have dreamt anything rather than that Schott would have left me so completely stranded — on account, so he says, of entire stoppage of his own receipts from America and Russia. I went to Kissingen myself, where he's taking a cure, but found him laid up with high fever, and couldn't even be admitted to him. I have taken steps, however, to beat up the requisite money on other paths, and believe I may reckon with certainty on being able to send you at least something for your keep within the next few days, and shortly also what is needed for your installation with the furniture. Console yourself with me, whose misfortunes you now have to share: rest assured in return, I shall remember you in the very first place when I'm out of the wood myself.
But yet another pleasure has been dashed for me, and I have had to defer its fulfilment. I wanted to send you a very successful oil-portrait of myself for this birthday, but the painter hasn't finished it, — I couldn't sit of late: obliged to leave now, he will only complete it quite at Munich, and despatch it thence to you before the month is out. It will look very well in the new abode.
I am alone again now, and my finger also has so far recovered that I have been able to work again without disturbance. It was highest time; only, these momentary cares disturb me much still! —
The Frommann surprised me with a visit from Schlangenbad the other day; she received a full account of my relations with Carlsruhe, and has gone on there to see the Grand Duchess. I don't believe, though, that she will be able to achieve anything for me. My whole future reposes on the completion and success of the Meistersinger; therefore I know nothing so important as this work. —
Lohengrin was to be given at Frankfort with the Schnorrs: he cannot come. Whether I shall bother about the performance itself without him, I must leave unsettled for the moment.
Now, dear Minna, don't be angry with me because of this disappointing letter; things will soon improve. For to-day please accept my heartfelt wish that you at least may feel well and in full strength on your birthday! I hope so fervently, and send best love!
Thy Richard.
Source: Richard to Minna Wagner: Letters to His First Wife, trans. William Ashton Ellis, Vol. 2 (Charles Scribner's Sons, 1909), No. 251