Dear Minna,
I thank you for your kind and entertaining letters; your having so diverted yourself, is a happiness nobody grudges you less than I, — only don't take it ill of me if I haven't mental peace enough to enter any farther into your communications and the invitations passed me on: I have a head chock-full, and to look out for my skin! You cannot believe the confusion Schott's behaviour has thrown me into: I can't get near him; he really is very ill, and his considerable losses, particularly through America, by all means aren't to be denied. But what is the use of my going into all that for your benefit? it would simply bewilder you as well. Many a time has it been easy for me to procure help in such cases: this time quite incredible ill-luck pursues me! — However — means must be devised in the long-run!
Trusting to ultimate success, I have found time to attend to the furniture-cases: nos. 7 and 14 have been re-packed and filled up with some things I could spare: all went off yesterday, and will reach you in a week. You must and shall have the requisite money by then; be easy on that score! — One chest will follow later, and contain a few things from my present equipment which really must be in my room at Dresden. —
For the moment, when I am driven from correspondent to correspondent, to say nothing of flying hither and thither to follow up financial operations, I really can't write you much more than just that announcement and solace! —
I am bound to tide over this too in the end, but it has taken a deal out of me this time, and I'm just earnestly seeking to obtain definite security against suchlike vicissitudes for the rest of my life. I hope Metternich will assist me to that! —
In the thick of my worries I conducted Lohengrin only once more, and then handed it over. The audience behaved very nicely again, and laurel-wreaths came down. The performance went surer than the first, but I also perceived that the singers had got the full length of their tether and weren't to be brought any farther! —
In a calmer frame of mind I will make up for all omissions; to-day I merely wanted to reassure you and let you have the needful solace!
Patience, then, all will come right! The furniture is on the road! —
Kind love and all best wishes from
Thy Richard.
Source: Richard to Minna Wagner: Letters to His First Wife, trans. William Ashton Ellis, Vol. 2 (Charles Scribner's Sons, 1909), No. 253