Most Honoured Sir and Friend, I hope that you may perhaps remember me with the like benevolence which you formerly exercised towards me in a high degree and for which I still feel I owe you the liveliest and most heartfelt gratitude. I have now touched down at the point which moves me most directly: I am seeking a post and want your help in judging whether Riga would be open to me for the autumn season.
Two years ago I turned to practical work and acted as music director in Magdeburg. Destiny has now sent me to Koenigsberg, where I had believed I had good prospects of an engagement, but my chief mistake was to suppose that Herr Schuberth would return to Riga in the autumn. It appears that he will remain there. Since I have come so far already, I now ask you for a short note saying whether there will be a passable theatre with opera in Riga and whether they would have use for me as music director there. My betrothed, Fraulein Planer, would follow me there if I were placed, and I should be grateful to present her to you and your good lady as a young married pair.
Once again, my honoured friend, I ask you to see how things stand and to favour me with a few lines that will find me at Memel, poste restante. There are certain relationships in life which remain constant, and I shall certainly never be other than ward and protege to you, the guardian and patron.
Richard Wagner
Source: Letters of Richard Wagner, Volume 1, ed. Altmann/Hull (London: Dent, 1927), No. 38