Esteemed Friend!
In reply to your kind letter just received, I inform you briefly of the following facts. . . .
I have long since reconciled myself to the postponement of our performance until the year 1874, but I do not yet admit it. . . . The Darmstadt reports I could have explained at once, as you did later. I understand and appreciate your ideas perfectly, as well as your excellent intentions. And surely I shall soon convince you that even under the most favourable circumstances I can have nothing to do with the Darmstadt theatre. Here it is a case of either this—or that! Wholly—or not at all!
Only one thing I wish to remark: you frightened me by the news that you had left the Semper plans with the Grand Duke. Do not forget that these are the property of the King of Bavaria (dearly bought, and only intrusted to me for the purpose of my enterprise, and to which I consider myself authorised, in the name of the King of Bavaria, for use only in a Bavarian city).
As, according to repeated experience, the greatest possible unpleasantness could arise from this, I beg of you, in whatever way seems to you the most advisable, to leave the Semper plans entirely out of the question. Should the Grand Duke find them to his liking, the only thing to do would be to advise him to apply directly to Semper. The latter would then know how far he was at liberty to make use of his own property without trespassing upon the rights of the King of Bavaria. . . .
With cordial greetings,
Yours,
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. 10