Letter to Karl Marx, March 6, 1877

Author(s) Friedrich Engels
Written 6 March 1877


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
Printed according to the original
Published in English in full for the first time in Marx-Engels Collected Works, Volume 45


ENGELS TO MARX[1]

IN LONDON

Brighton, 6 March 1877
42 King's Road

Dear Moor,

Very many thanks for the long opus re 'critical history'.[2] It is more than I need in order to destroy the fellow utterly in this field too. In fact Lavrov is to some extent right in maintaining that the fellow has been treated too decently hitherto.[3] When I now re-read the Kursus der Nationalökonomie[4] and knowing the fellow and his ways as I now do, so that I no longer need fear some hidden trap amidst the verbiage and can see the pompous fadaise[5] for what it is, I certainly consider that a little more contempt wouldn't come amiss. The good Lavrov is entitled to his own feelings about it, of course, and in his проповѣди[6] can leave out of account the crescendo which the likes of us must always bear in mind when engaged on so protracted a demolition job. When I've finished the 'Philosophy', however, there'll be no further need for him to complain about gentleness, still less when it comes to the 'Political Economy'.

Collet's grave misgivings apropos Gladstone were inevitable.[7]

These are things that ought not to happen without orders from above. It would have been better to have remained silent until Gladstone was back in office and then left it to Urquhart to issue a grave warning by way of profound INNUENDOES incomprehensible even to the person concerned. The war against SECRET DIPLOMACY must itself be waged secretly and diplomatically.

I shall make a digest of the Plebeiana[8] for Wilhelm.[9] The present split in Italy spells disaster for messieurs les anarchist dictators. The brief comments in this number of the Plebe on the spiriti ristretti ed anarchici—ed alio stesso tempo mostruosa contradizione, dittatoriali[10] go to show that Bignami has acquired an intimate knowledge of the peculiarities of these people. All the same, Bakunin was more skilful and patient than Mr Guillaume, who is in too much of a hurry in the matter of world government.

What you sent me wasn't a new proof.[11] I've had none as yet. Wilhelm is making a thorough mess of things.

We return tomorrow week.[12] Lizzy is noticeably restored, appetite almost normal; but here, on this long uninterrupted stretch of beach, the air is really incomparable.

Best wishes,

Your

F. E.

  1. ↑ An extract from this letter was published in English for the first time in: K. Marx and F. Engels, Letters on 'Capital', New Park Publications Ltd., London, 1983.
  2. ↑ Enclosed in Marx's letter to Engels of 5 March 1877 were Marx's 'Randnoten zu Dührings Kritische Geschichte der Nationalökonomie. The manuscript, which contains a critical analysis of the first three sections of the second edition of Dühring's book, was used by Engels as the basis for Chapter X, 'From Kritische Geschichte', of Part II of his Anti-Dühring (see present edition, Vol. 25, pp. 211-43).
  3. ↑ See this volume, p. 203.
  4. ↑ E. Dühring, Cursus der National- und Socialökonomie...
  5. ↑ twaddle
  6. ↑ homilies
  7. ↑ Clara Collet. See previous letter.
  8. ↑ Engels used the article 'Congresso Socialista di Milano' carried by La Plebe when working on his article 'From Italy' published by the Vorwärts, No. 32, 16 March 1877 (see present edition, Vol. 24).
  9. ↑ Wilhelm Liebknecht
  10. ↑ minds that are narrow and anarchic and at the same time—monstrous contradiction this—dictatorial
  11. ↑ 'The music of the future'—Richard Wagner's music, whose principles he expounded in his Zukunftmusik. Brief an einem französischen Freund (1861) addressed to Frederic Villot, keeper of the French museums, and in his book Das Kunstwerk der Zukunft.
  12. ↑ From about 20 February to 17 March and in the second half of May 1877, Engels stayed in Brighton with his sick wife.