| Author(s) | Friedrich Engels |
|---|---|
| Written | 29 January 1893 |
ENGELS TO WILHELM LIEBKNECHT
IN BERLIN
London, 29 January 1893
Dear Liebknecht,
Herewith a small token of my 'serious loss of strength' on the evidence of which you will, I trust, 'hourly await my demise'.[1] Where did this nonsense originate? I should like to discover who the scoundrel is!
I have so arranged the article[2] as to enable you to publish it either in three numbers[3] or in a supplement; the latter might perhaps be best. I haven't signed it, for otherwise I should inevitably put the chaps in Rome onto the track of my Italian source.[4] The man has been insufficiently cautious in his conduct of the correspondence which has evidently been subject to rigorous surveillance. Moreover I still don't know whether the relevant documents are in a safe place abroad and so it is essential to avoid doing anything that might deliver them up into the hands of the Italian government.
I have mentioned names only where the facts relating to them have already appeared in the Italian press and could therefore be produced as supporting evidence. The only exceptions are the two names Arbib and Martini on p. 3; I could provide no supporting evidence for these, so if you have misgivings delete them.
The bearer of the revered name is Menotti Garibaldi, a lad who has already been hard at work for years past founding all sorts of things.
Not long ago the Vorwärts alluded to Bonghi the Republican[5] —the man is an arch-reactionary and an ex-minister of the Right. All in all, the Vorwärts has been notable for such mistakes regarding foreign countries, not least England!
Give my regards to your wife and children.
Your
F.E.