If you only knew how sad it makes me never to get any good news of those ceded publishing royalties! Friend Fischer recently told me of Meser's death, with the idea that the news would determine me to take steps in Dresden; naturally, however, I left this to your advocate who, being on the spot, would doubtless be in a position to do whatever was best. Yet I thought I should soon have had news, instead of which I have just received another threat of being sued here for a debt, for which at one time he agreed to be referred to that undertaking. This shows me that things must be very wrong! Really, it is hard to find myself treated thus in view of the misfortune which has overtaken this one meticulously guaranteed and unique piece of property.
I am living here abroad on nothing but the kindness of certain friends to whom I have rendered no direct service at all. My profits from the theatres, which will also shortly come to an end, have served to provide me with a home again after years of fugitive wandering and also to ensure the changes, etc., necessary for my health. You have no idea how these everlastingly recurrent calamities wear me out, particularly now, when I want life to run at its smoothest so that I can get courage and the right mood to finish my great work [The Ring of the Nibelungs], despite the fact that my health grows worse and worse. I have spent half this winter in bed. I am resting all my hopes in the spring and summer, if only I could get real peace and quiet!
Forgive me this digression; I know that no one is more my well-wisher than yourself. If all goes well and I am still alive, my completed work, in the form of a great Stage Festival, ought, I think, probably to be shown to the world at Zurich in a temporary theatre built for the purpose. Please give my kindest regards to poor Kriete, who really is most patient, humane and generous-minded!
Richard Wagner
Source: Letters of Richard Wagner, Volume 1, ed. Altmann/Hull (London: Dent, 1927), No. 300