I have promised an article on Art and Climate for the March number of the Deutsche Monatsschrift (Stuttgart). A good friend on the Deutsche Allgemeine Zeitung has decided me to present the worthlessness, cowardliness and bad taste of that pretext of "climate" in all its nothingness. In any case I have decided to issue Papers on Art and Life entirely on my own, perhaps bi-monthly. If only The Work of Art of the Future attracts some attention I hope I may persuade Wigand to accept my undertaking. I have made one mistake with the Wibelungs, not on account of the title, but by publishing it as a brochure. It belongs to a monthly review. Beg Wigand's pardon for me on that account and give him my kind regards. I have not written to the King and yet it seems to me there is a basis of truth in the rumour.
Early in June last year in Paris Semper told me that Heubner was sentenced to death and that the execution would soon be carried out. My heart seemed to turn in my breast. From that country I wrote at once to Frau von Liittichau, naturally without saying a word about myself, saying she ought to go to the King and admonish him before the execution of the sentence, if it had really been pronounced. I praised Heubner and declared that not only would the King have done better to call him into the Ministry, as he had formerly proposed to do, but that he could now do nothing better than get to know Heubner and make a friend of him. Naturally Frau von Liittichau did nothing as the whole thing was only a rumour, but it is possible that since the real sentence she has now produced my letter. This may be the basis of what has come to your ears.
Richard Wagner
Source: Letters of Richard Wagner, Volume 1, ed. Altmann/Hull (London: Dent, 1927), No. 166