Letter to Karl Marx, February 22, 1870

Author(s) Friedrich Engels
Written 22 February 1870


First published abridged in Der Briefwechsel zwischen F. Engels und K. Marx, Bd. 4, Stuttgart, 1913 and in full in MEGA, Abt. III, Bd. 4, Berlin, 1931
Published in English for the first time in Marx-Engels Collected Works, Volume 43


ENGELS TO MARX

IN LONDON

Manchester, 22 February 1870

Dear Moor,

If Imandt had gone immediately to a SOLICITOR, just like the North German consul, he would most probably have learned that a debt contracted abroad is not recoverable by legal action in Scotland—or should Scotland be an exception to all other countries? On superannuation, the Code Civil states, Article 2262, that all plaints are superannuated after 30 years; Article 2265: who acquires something in good faith—superannuation in 10, respectively 20 years[1] ; Article 2271: the plaint of masters and teachers of sciences and arts regarding instruction given monthly, superannuates in 6 months. Since this last article does not correspond to the case, the plaint has obviously been filed simply in order to interrupt the superannuation in Rhenish Prussia, or also to see if Imandt can be browbeaten by fear of showing himself up, and will thus pay. His counter-bills are possibly made out on word of honour, in which case he could be shown up badly, in his position. Under Article 2244 a court summons interrupts the superannuation.

Katkov's elucidations about Bakunin are not worth much.[2] He does not say to whom the repentant letters were supposedly sent. Borrowing money is such a normal Russian means of sustenance that no Russian should reproach another on the subject. And that Bakunin should have used the 6,000 roubles lent him in order to flee, instead of paying the otkupschtschik,[3] is really ludicrous. And that somebody banished to Siberia should once turn to Katkov, although otherwise he has no time for him—one can't make much of that either. It will annoy Bakunin, but I can't see that Gaudissart[4] will dig much capital out of it.

You can tell Gaudissart concerning his plan regarding Flerovsky that, if an English publisher is interested, he will find himself a translator who will translate AT THE MARKET RATE, which differs considerably from what Gaudissart calls 'paying well', and who will finish it in 2-3 months, and not take a whole year. Gaudissart should not think that he is the only person who knows Russian. There will still be time to return to the other points when he has really found a publisher. Incidentally, it won't hurt at all if Gaudissart makes enquiries amongst the London PUBLISHERS. If he should find somebody, which I hardly believe, this contact could be utilised at a later date. You can easily refuse the preface, saying it would be arrogant of you to wish to introduce a foreign book to English literature, before you yourself had been introduced to it by an English edition of your own book.[5]

Apropos, why don't you put Eccarius on to tackling the foul prison deeds in Volksstaat?

Sybel, of course, does mention the second partitioning of Poland behind Austria's back,[6] but, at the same time, he tries to prove once again that Prussia was entitled to do this, on account of some sort of previous Austrian treachery. His entire reasoning is this: when Prussia allies itself with Russia against Austria, this is in order, but if Austria attempts to ally itself with Russia against Prussia, this is treachery. The Pan-Germans and Austrians—Arneth, Vivenot and consorts—claim the opposite; so the two schools of history-mutilators today behave just as stupidly with regard to Russia as the two German powers did then.

I still haven't got hold of the damned Irish laws.[7] I have discovered Giraldus Cambrensis[8] ; it can be had from Bohn, translated, for 5s. At the moment I'm going through Wakefield,[9] who has a lot of good things on climate, soil, etc., with all sorts of omnium-gatherum in between. The fellow considers himself very learned, and is partial to quoting German, Dutch, Danish, etc., trash.

Yesterday I laughed more than I have for ages when I read Moses' Paris letter in Volksstaat about Flourens[10] and the other new 'forces' that are replacing and supplanting old Blanqui, etc. The old blockhead never changes. Wilhelm[11] ditto: his latest reports on 19 February are: Hanover, 13 January, Lörrach, 23 January, Munich, 25 January, Ernstthal, 17 January!

Incidentally, things are moving quickly in France. Jules Favre could do nothing better than to declare himself so vehemently against all violence, and in favour of peaceful progress, though limited.[12]

My move to London late in summer has now been decided. Lizzie has told me that she would like to leave Manchester, the sooner the better; she has had some rows with relations, and she is fed up with the whole business here. We shall get rid of our house in September, so everything must be arranged between July and September.

Best greetings.

Your

F. E.

  1. ↑ Engels quotes articles from Napoleon I's Code civil passed in 1804 and introduced also in the West and South-West German territories conquered by France. The Code continued to operate in the Rhine Province after its annexation by Prussia. Article 2265 quoted by Engels reads in full: 'Those who acquire real estate in good faith (bona fides) through honest work and on legal grounds, are acquiring property by virtue of the expiry of the ten years' statute of limitations if the owner is residing on the territory under the jurisdiction of the court of appeal in which the property is located, and twenty years limitations, if he is residing outside this territory.'
  2. ↑ See this volume, p. 436.
  3. ↑ tax agent (the Russian word is written by Engels in Latin letters in the original)
  4. ↑ Sigismund Borkheim
  5. ↑ Marx planned to have Capital translated into English back in 1865, when working on the manuscript (see Marx's letter to Engels, 31 July 1865; present edition, Vol. 42). Reporter Peter Fox, a member of the British labour movement, was to help him find a publisher. However, due to the latter's death in 1869 nothing was settled. The English translation of Volume One of Capital edited by Engels appeared after Marx's death, in January 1887. The translation was done by Samuel Moore and Edward Aveling between mid-1883 and March 1886; Eleanor Marx-Aveling assisted in preparing the translation for the press.
  6. ↑ See this volume, pp. 432-33, 437-38.
  7. ↑ Brehon Law, the general name of the Celtic common law code, took its name from the Brehons, judges in Celtic Ireland. The laws operated in Ireland until 1605, when they were repealed by the British Government. Their publication was started by the Brehon Law Commission set up by the British Government in 1852. The first three volumes of the Ancient Laws of Ireland appeared in 1865, 1869 and 1873 and made up the collection The Senchus Mor, or Great Old Law Book. The publication continued up to 1901.
  8. ↑ Ancient Laws of Ireland. Senchus Mor, Vols I-II; Giraldus Cambrensis, Topographia hibernica et expugnatio hibernica. In: Giraldi Cambrensis Opera, Vol. V.
  9. ↑ E. Wakefield, An Account of Ireland, Statistical and Political.
  10. ↑ [M. Hess,] 'Die Woche, welche...', Der Volksstaat, No. 15, 19 February 1870 (the 'Aus Frankreich' column).
  11. ↑ Wilhelm Liebknecht
  12. ↑ Engels refers to Favre's speech made on 21 February 1870 at a session of the Corps législatif and featured by the Journal des Débats on 22 February 1870.