Letter to Friedrich Engels, February 21, 1882

Author(s) Karl Marx
Written 21 February 1882


First published in Der Briefwechsel zwischen F. Engels und K. Marx, Bd. 4, Stuttgart, 1913
First published in English in: K. Marx, Critique of the Gotha Programme, Lawrence, London, [1933].
Reproduced in Marx-Engels Collected Works, Volume 46


TO ENGELS IN LONDON

[Postcard, unsigned]

Alger,[1] 21 February 1882
Hôtel d'Orient

Dear Fred,

I left Marseilles on Saturday 18 February at 5 in the afternoon aboard the Said, EXCELLENT STEAMER; the PASSAGE was a fast one, so that we had already reached Algiers by half past three in the morning on Monday (20 February).[2] However, it was a chilly crossing and, though the ship was equipped with every comfort, the 2 nights were sleepless ones for me owing to the diabolical noise of the engines, wind, etc., which were disturbing in the cabin.

Here again, I found in store for me the same quid pro quo, mutatis mutandis[3] as in the Isle of Wight.[4] This particular SEASON happens to be, for Algiers, exceptionally cold and wet, while Nice and Menton are presently luring away most of its visitors! I had in any case had some misgivings and more than once hinted at the possibility of starting off d'abord[5] with the Riviera. However it would seem to be a fatalité[6] The good juge[7] gave me a most friendly welcome yesterday; Longuet's letter had forewarned him the day before I arrived; he is calling on me today to consider future moves. Then I shall write at greater length. Kindest regards to all. Letters aren't dispatched every day to France and England.

Write to me under my name, Aux soins de Monsieur Fermé, juge au tribunal civil,[8] No. 37, Route Mustapha Supérieur, Alger.

[On the side reserved for the address]

Fr. Engels, Esq.

122 Regent's Park Road, Londres, N. W. Angleterre

  1. ↑ Algiers
  2. ↑ In the discussion of the Bill on the trade regulations proposed by the Catholic Party of the Centre (see Note 423), Bebel spoke at the Reichstag session of 18 April 1877 in defence of the alternative Social-Democratic Bill which provided for a set of measures aimed to shorten working hours, introduce labour protection, etc. He embarked on a sharp polemic with representatives of the bourgeois parties.
  3. ↑ topsyturvydom, allowing for different circumstances
  4. ↑ This letter was published in English for the first time in: K. Marx, F. Engels, V. I. Lenin, The Communist View on Morality, Novosti Press Agency Publishing House, Moscow, 1974.
  5. ↑ first
  6. ↑ fatality
  7. ↑ judge (Fermé)
  8. ↑ Care of Monsieur Fermé, Judge in the Civil Courts.