My dear Friend!
It is certainly time that I let you hear from me again! Forgive me for this neglect, but I hope that the news of me which has reached you from time to time has kept you sufficiently informed as to banish all doubts as to my loyalty and devotion.
As a matter of fact, the completion of my last great work has greatly exhausted me! Now it is finished, and may the course of its ultimate realisation present no difficulties! I shall hope so! The most unexpected interruptions, and the distressing incident of the death of my important colleague Brandt, had to be overcome.
To the son of my dead friend, Fritz, who is already thoroughly initiated into the present task, I have already transferred the completion of his father's work, and referred him to the Executive Council in all questions concerning the same.
As for the rest, I think I have left everything in good order, so that I can feel justified in permitting myself a complete surrender to impressions so very much needed for the improvement of my bodily condition. . . .
It distresses me to see my friends in embarrassment in regard to our Festival Theatre; will you kindly convey to our excellent friend Burgomaster Muncker, first of all, my hearty thanks for his energetic stand in this not very agreeable matter.
When I take a general survey of the attitude of my own age to me during the past ten years, I must confess that the balance of my gratitude falls on the side of the friends whom I made during that time, and I herewith declare that next to my family the dearest of all things to me is Bayreuth.
Accept your own great and full share of this, my dearest friend, and be assured for all time of the most sincere gratitude and friendship of
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. 122