| Author(s) | Karl Marx |
|---|---|
| Written | 7 June 1859 |
MARX TO ENGELS
[London,] 7 June [1859]
DEAR Frederick,
You must excuse me for not writing to you before, and only these few lines. My time has been completely taken u p with work and with running private and party errands.
D'abord[1] I was delighted to hear that you liked the first instalment,[2] for your opinion is the only one I value in this matter. T o my wife's considerable AMUSEMENT, I awaited WITH SOME ANXIETY YOUR JUDGMENT.
Ad vocem[3] 'Volk': Admittedly its administration leaves a great deal to be desired, since there is only one type-setter, no errand-boy, etc., on top of which not a single 'trustworthy' despatch clerk has yet presented himself, and above all, no money. Nevertheless, recent issues have been virtually sold out and if ways and means
can be found of appointing a reasonably reliable despatch clerk, the thing will survive. Moreover, the 'little sheet', although only indirectly given a TURN by us, has set the whole of democracy by the ears. Not just here, but also in Switzerland, where Vogt- Kinkel have pitched into me in the Handels-Courier with one of those blackguardly little articles with which you are familiar.[4] I'll get them to reproduce it in the next number.[5]
I shall speak to Biskamp on the Manchester question. For his part, he asked me yesterday to write and tell you that not a single copy had been ordered in Manchester. It looks to me as though Hollinger (the printer) has already been bribed by Kinkel. Nous verrons.[6]
Kinkel, following an audience with Kossuth and money pay- ments from Vogt, has gone over to the camp of high treason. Bücher and Blind have resigned in 'indignation'. Kinkel's col- leagues are now as follows: Bamberger, Ed. Bauer, Beta (How do you do?) and Born[7] (our ex-Born's brother). A fine lot. Add to which one or two old whores.
Ad vocem Freiligrath. Between ourselves, a rotter. Having now seen that things are taking a revolutionary TURN (you must have heard about the labour RIOT in Berlin[8] ) and that Kinkel is becoming DISRESPECTABLE, he reviles him. But the sixth and last volume of his collected works (s'/é of it translated rubbish) published in America, which he has just received and sent me, concludes with the poem about Johanna Mockel,[9] whereas he has suppressed the anfi-Kinkel poem.[10] This is a filthy thing to do and it was with very sceptical mien that I listened to his excuses on the subject. The devil take the bardic profession.
Ad vocem Vogt. Has placed himself at Prussia's 'disposal' in the Volks-Zeitung (Berlin).
Ad vocem Duncker. That dolt Duncker, to whom I had written in exceedingly rude terms about his dilly-dallying, has sent me a letter admitting outright that the last delay of 3 weeks (when everything had been completed save for the list of misprints) was due to the publication of the 'anonymous pamphlet',[11] the one concocted of 'sweat, fire and logic'.[12] I deliberately divulged to the press the fact that you were the author of Po and Rhine, because
I had good reason to suppose that the author of the 'anonymous pamphlet' was quietly 'switching places' with you. I must say, it's a bit thick, Mr Lassalle placing an embargo on me at will! The thing is coming out in Berlin this week—my first instalment, I mean.
Finally, whatever happens and as soon as the MEANS READY, I shall come to Manchester for a few days as we have all sorts of things to settle.[13]
Salut.
Your
K. M.
Regards to lupullum.[14] Tomorrow I shall send you copies of the Presse (in which quarter the 'anonymous one' has put a spoke in my wheel good and proper).
The rotten STAFF here is no joke, I assure you. Biskamp at least writes quickly and has a ready wit. Liebknecht is AN AWFUL NUISANCE. Due to his over-ingenious manoeuvrings, the little sheet was only able to publish the gossip about Kinkel and Bauer in a much attenuated form.[15]
Your article[16] appeared in the Volk on the same day it arrived. The last number contains the preface to my affair,[17] i. e. with such omissions as Mr Biskamp thought fit.