I have just had a quite surprisingly amiable and friendly letter from the Grand Duke of Baden, which I really value as the first sign of the breaking through of all kinds of meticulous or artificial Court etiquette hitherto observed in my case. The occasion was a little attention I showed to the young Grand Duchess, for which he now thanks me in his name and hers with genuine feeling and very touchingly.
Last week Edward Devrient was with me for three days and consecrated my little guest chamber. I told him also about my Tristan project. He highly approved it; only he was against Strasburg, prudent and cautious as he is accustomed to be. He undertook to negotiate for a first performance in Karlsruhe under my conductorship. The Grand Duke seems to have got wind of something of the kind already, probably through Devrient, for in one passage in his letter he plainly alludes to his expectation of seeing me soon in Karlsruhe. Well, as God wills! But I see this much, that I shall have to perform another little miracle soon now, to make people believe in me.
Richard Wagner
Source: Letters of Richard Wagner, Volume 1, ed. Altmann/Hull (London: Dent, 1927), No. 339