My dear Sir,
Forgive this delay with my answer. Precisely in the last few weeks I have been engaged in active correspondence about the steps immediately necessary for my undertaking, which needs must suffer a considerable postponement if the first building-operations for the theatre cannot be begun this autumn. It is essential for me to know the present amount of subscriptions, to be able to judge whether I can give the needful orders to the architect and machinist; for, if the date announced by me is to be observed, the preliminary work must commence at once. I therefore beg you in particular to acquaint Herr von Loen as soon as possible with the results of your labours in Mannheim to date, so that he may be in the position to inform me of the grand total in good time.
In a favourable event I then propose to meet the architect and machinist at Bayreuth toward the end of this month, to settle all the requisites for the laying of the foundation-stone — to which, my dear Sir, I propose to invite yourself and the principal officers of the other Vereins. In every respect such a meeting, from which I should have to address a word to the public too, would help the progress of our enterprise; so that, even should delays arise thereafter, I eagerly desire the execution of my plan.
I am sorry that a very premature announcement, that I intend giving concerts in Vienna, has somewhat upset you. Certainly, the rumour of my acceptance for Mannheim awoke in my Viennese friends a like wish for my personal intervention, and I could do no else than declare the same good-will to Vienna as to Mannheim. Now it is to be feared that every union in the various towns on whose co-operation I must count will advance a similar claim upon me, and the strength which I have promised to sacrifice in full to the execution of my work itself will be frittered away beforehand on amassing the material means, with incalculable consequences to myself. I undisguisedly acquaint you with this fear, without, however, withdrawing the promise I gave you: merely it would reassure me, if I could move you to a little patience, and if you would not be too pressing about the date of my concert-visit to Mannheim. To Vienna, also, I have only been able to give an indefinite consent as yet: I should much prefer our all assembling soon at Bayreuth, when this concert business also could be definitely arranged.
With the warmest acknowledgment of your most amiable services, and the request that you will present my best compliments to our valued friends in Mannheim,
I remain with all esteem
Yours faithfully
Richard Wagner.
Source: Letters of Richard Wagner to Emil Heckel, with a Brief History of the Bayreuth Festivals, trans. William Ashton Ellis (Grant Richards, 1899), No. 5