Most esteemed Herr Burgomaster!
It was hinted to me this evening by our friend Gross that our highly esteemed Herr Feustel regards the countermanding of the attendance on Tuesday “for pay” as an insult to himself, and accordingly would withdraw his so very valuable assistance from our Executive Council.
In the face of this genuine calamity I resolved to let things take the course wished by Herr Feustel; after further consideration of the matter, I must, however, declare that I, for my part, will not be present at the rehearsal, and that I intend to leave the singers to themselves; may the consequences not prove injurious!
With respectful greetings,
Yours faithfully,
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. 91