My good friend, I heartily regret the heat which misled me into making a public and personal appearance with my pamphlet. I seem to have been terribly misunderstood and a number of signs go to show that there is an attempt to injure my credit seriously with the King. Now I ask you to do a really friendly office. You have just the personality and powers of persuasive speech to go to Court and plead my cause with the King! See what can be done with the weapons of the spirit and of virtue unstained to convince those concerned of my good intentions and dissuade them, if possible, from a step which, certainly to me and possibly to you too, may be very prejudicial. What more can I say to you? I entreat you for your friendly help! You will not be able to refuse it me!
Richard Wagner
Source: Letters of Richard Wagner, Volume 1, ed. Altmann/Hull (London: Dent, 1927), No. 141