Honoured Sir!
Pardon the delay in my answer! I have been occupied of late in a lively correspondence in regard to the most immediate steps necessary for the commencement of my undertaking. This will suffer a decided setback if we are not able to begin the preliminary work on the building of the theatre this autumn. It is very important to ascertain the present amount of the contributions, and to decide accordingly as to whether the necessary contracts can be given to the architects and machinists; if the time which I have set is to be kept, the preliminary work must be begun at once. . . .
When the circumstances are favourable, I intend to meet the architect and the machinist in Bayreuth the end of October, to determine everything necessary for the laying of the corner-stone, to which event I intend to invite you, esteemed sir, as well as the committees of the other societies. In every respect such a meeting (in connection with which I should address a word to the general public) would be advantageous for the progress of the undertaking, and for this reason I wish very keenly to carry out my plans, even if later delays unavoidably occur. . . .
With the warmest recognition of your kind services to me, and with the request that you present my compliments to our valued friends in Mannheim, I remain
Yours respectfully,
Richard Wagner.
Source: The Story of Bayreuth as Told in the Bayreuth Letters of Richard Wagner, trans. and ed. Caroline V. Kerr (Small, Maynard and Company, 1912), No. 4