As to Spohr I have really made a most remarkable conquest of him. All who know him describe him as the coldest, gruffest, and most unapproachable of men, with a great antipathy to strangers. Everyone counts it a real service on my part to have so completely won his favour simply through my work, The Flying Dutchman. This happy success in Cassel gives me a great advantage.
You have no need at all to worry about my health. I am fit and well and my head is clear. My bowels are behaving themselves again, and I hardly suffer at all from colic now. All the same I should still like to go in for a cure with you. It is a pity that the bad weather so often prevents me from going for my walk. I have a lot to do. When I am not busy with an opera there is always something or other on hand with the Liedertafel. I have all but finished my composition and count on its creating a really thrilling impression. The day before yesterday the King commanded me to the Bastei with some singers and members of the orchestra. Luckily the weather was so bad that the party was countermanded. Tomorrow is Corpus Christi Day, and I shall have to conduct in church in uniform because it is the greatest of festivals and everyone is to appear in gala dress. We had never thought of it. Our operas are still going exceptionally well, and since I for my own part hold very few rehearsals as with La Muetta the orchestra is simply amazed at my assurance and is, furthermore, grateful for the trouble saved.
Richard Wagner
Source: Letters of Richard Wagner, Volume 1, ed. Altmann/Hull (London: Dent, 1927), No. 92