Dear Minna,
This moment I have received word that the Leipzig manager has at last seen fit to deposit the fee for the Flying Dutchman. I am at once giving orders to forward the 20 Friedrichsd'or to your Dresden address, and consequently breathe again at being able in this way to let you have a little to go on with. — The rest is bound to arrange itself soon, and I hope to be able to let the chests of furniture (exactly as you wished — together with what I think I can spare from my own small establishment here) go off to you by the end of this week, so that everything may stand at your disposal in Dresden by October 1. At the very latest you will also have the needful money for your fitting up by then.
The saddest news is that I'm so behindhand with the Meistersinger. I've sworn it shall be altogether finished by my 50th birthday. I shall hold to that unflinchingly!
So, I conducted my Lohengrin for the first time in my life myself last Friday. The original cause resided in a star engagement of the Dustmann's last July: as the Schnorrs also intended visiting me at the same time, I proposed to Herr v. Guaita, the Frankfort artistic director, a model performance of this opera. But since I likewise wished to give the opera entire (without the usual villainous omissions), there wasn't time then. At last it got that length — but the Schnorrs couldn't come; I attended a rehearsal, and found the Kapellmeister (Lachner) so miserable, that I had to make up my mind either to withdraw completely, or to take over the rehearsals myself. The integrity of the score would have proved detrimental to the representation if I had not conducted it myself; so I embarked at last — and don't repent it. You know my knack of handling such people, so everybody was astonished at what I had made of them; only now — with the work in its entirety — did it all become clear, and the success was quite extraordinary (in spite of the strictly most limited means), so that folk tell me they didn't recognise the Frankforters again. Such a thing had got to happen once; and I've promised to conduct the next few performances also, to get them firmly set. — Perhaps — it may profit me in other regards!
Meanwhile I have great worries; my money matters are not squared up yet. Schott lies seriously ill at Kissingen, — and life is not exactly easy to myself. — It was pleasant to meet the Prince Metternich's on the Johannisberg yesterday; a meeting which will have important results, I expect. He is going to Vienna, and will draw the attention of highest regions to me there in such a fashion that what I have awaited from Carlsruhe and Berlin in vain perhaps may happen thence at last.
The Frommann is ailing at Schlangenbad, and couldn't come to Lohengrin; I hope to see her again, though.
Weissheimer has gone off to Leipzig, to make preparations for a big concert there, at which I've promised him to conduct my new overture to the Meistersinger myself. That will be about the time you have got done with your furnishing; so I shall come on to you, take a glance at Dresden, and expect to delight myself with your fortified health. Your accounts convince me that the cure has done you good, and no doubt it doesn't need my protestation, to tell you how much that relieves me and fills me with hope.
Now, dear Minna, you have a little money again for the instant, and a great weight accordingly is lifted off my heart. Mathilde can wait till the 1st of October, can't she? — Adieu! Farewell! Have courage, and count on my solicitude! Kind 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. 252