Dear Master,
You of course have heard through your Verwaltungsrath in Bayreuth, that I have declared myself against your sending out a circular as to covering the deficit. It is our business to collect the money, and I am of opinion that this should be done by letters and personal visits to sterling friends. My first visit, to Herr Friedr. Schön at Worms, resulted in his placing 1000 marks at my command; of this I have apprised Bayreuth, but as yet have received no answer as to what has been resolved on. I also have repeatedly written the gentlemen that, even if the town as such can contribute nothing to covering the deficit, at least the citizens should collect a substantial sum among themselves.
To-day I have come by the idea that in 1877, instead of three — four representations might be given, the takings of the first to be devoted to covering the deficit; on which occasion higher voluntary contributions than 100 mk. might well be paid.
I would not have troubled you with business-worries amid the beauties of Sorrento, but my plan of welcoming you back with the news "The deficit is covered" is again frustrated; for which we must lay a portion of the blame on "Russians, Turks and Servians."
Source: Letters of Richard Wagner to Emil Heckel, with a Brief History of the Bayreuth Festivals, trans. William Ashton Ellis (Grant Richards, 1899), No. 71