My dearest, best-beloved friend,
For your last letter, and especially for your remark about the Faust overture (which has delighted me!), I owe you a regular long letter, and must wait till I am in a good mood for it; for I know that only in that case my answer can give you real pleasure. Today I write you two hurried lines to say that I have accepted your generous offer and, relying upon your kindness, have asked Herr von Hülsen in a decided manner that you should be invited to Berlin to take my place at the performance of Tannhäuser. I have, I think, left nothing untried in order to induce Hülsen to get over any possible difficulties in connection with his own conductors there; I have made it a matter of personal feeling between him and me, just as it is between you and me. I hope that if Hülsen consents, his invitation will find you in a good and favourable mood. I know how great this new sacrifice is which I expect of you and how difficult you will find it to make; but your friendship makes me venture upon anything. Hülsen, who probably will not write to me himself, is to answer me through you; and you also must tell me that you do it willingly for my sake.
Of the great success of Tannhäuser at Breslau you have probably heard.
But no more today. Weary as I am, I should only produce halting things.
Soon I shall write better and more.
My best regards to H. Farewell, and do not lose your temper with your old plague Richard Wagner.
Source: Project Gutenberg eBook #3835, Correspondence of Wagner and Liszt — Volume 1, No. 87