determined to apply to the King of Saxony for my amnesty in a letter in which I shall candidly own my rashness, and at the same time explicitly state that my promise, never and in no manner to meddle with politics, comes from my very heart.  The drawback to this is that, if the other side were ill-inclined, my letter might easily be published in such a manner that I should be compelled to protest publicly against a false and humiliating explanation of my step, and this would lead to a permanent breach, which would make reconciliation impossible.  Taking all this into account, I must think it the best thing if my request were laid before the King by word of mouth, through a third person.  To satisfy me completely, and give me a chance of success, this could only be done by you, dear Franz.  Therefore I ask you plainly, Will you undertake to demand an audience of the King of Saxony on the strength of a letter from the Grand Duke of Weimar?  What you should say to the King at such an audience I need not indicate, but we surely agree that in asking for my amnesty stress should be laid upon my artistic nature.  On account of that nature and of my individual character as an artist, my startling political excess can alone be explained and excused, and the reasons for my amnesty should be considered in the same light.  With regard to that excess and to its consequences, which have continued for several years, I am ready to admit that I appear to myself as one who was in error and led away by passion, although I am not conscious that I have committed a real crime, which would come under a judicial sentence, and I should therefore find it difficult to plead guilty to such a crime.  Concerning my conduct in the future, I should be prepared to make any binding promise that could be desired of me.  I should only have to announce the modified and clearer view which makes me look upon the affairs of this world in a light in which I did not see them previously, and which induces me to confine myself to my art, without any reference to political speculation.  You might also point out that my reappearance in Germany could in no circumstances give rise to a demonstration which, although it might be meant for the artist only, could be explained and applied in a political sense by evil-disposed persons.  Fortunately I have, as an artist, reached such a stage that I need consider only my works of art and their success, but no longer the applause of the multitude.  I would therefore promise, with the greatest determination and quite in accordance with my own wishes, to avoid every public demonstration of sympathy which might be offered to me, even as an artist, such as complimentary dinners and the like.  These I should most positively decline, and indeed make them, as far as would be in my power, impossible by the mode of my sojourn in various places.  I should not even insist upon conducting the performance of any of my operas in person.  All I should care for would be to secure