Now, my golden lad, once more a few words to you, but only a few now and more soon! Thanks, thanks, a hundred thousand thanks and no more. I breathe, I come to life again, and I promised to present you with my first happy mood! To-morrow your Columbus goes to the copyist, so that it may be performed in about a fortnight. Bethmann is very pleased with the project. Now you must not be afraid of laying out a few groats on details of outfit; you might like some fine settings and so forth, and I am sure you will not, for you must wish to have the thing go as finely and impressively as possible.
The overture will also be finished, in spite of the fact that I have another Festspiel to compose for New Year's Day.
Richard Wagner
Source: Letters of Richard Wagner, Volume 1, ed. Altmann/Hull (London: Dent, 1927), No. 14