V. I.

Lenin

166

To:   HIS SISTER MARIA

July 13, 1908

Dear Manyasha, I have just received your letter with Anyuta’s postscript.
I was very glad to get the news. I was extremely glad to
learn that there is a possibility of its publication in
autumn. [1]

Your St. Petersburg correspondent, however, has forgotten
to answer one of my questions, an important one—is it not
possible to obtain even one copy of the book in printed form,
whether it has been made up or not? If the book is to come
out in the autumn this is not impossible. I am prepared to
pay five or even ten rubles to get a copy now. The point
is that it is absolutely essential for me to show this book,
before autumn, to certain people who cannot read the manuscript. If I cannot show the book to these people before
autumn, I stand to lose a lot in all respects. And so, since
you have the St. Petersburg address, and the owner of that
address answers you and is closely in touch with the whole
business—I ask you very earnestly to write to him and enquire, if there is the slightest opportunity, to get me
just one copy , even if it means giving the right person “palm
oil” to the extent of five rubles.

My illness has held up my work on philosophy very badly. I am now almost well again and will most certainly
write the book. I have been doing a lot of work on the

Machists and I think I have sorted out all their inexpressible
vulgarities (and those of “empirio-monism” as well). [2]

I am writing to M. Iv-na in Paris and giving her a recommendation. [3]

Give Mother many kisses for me. Best regards to all. I keep forgetting to write to tell Anyuta that I have received
340 rubles. So far I do not need money. Best regards to
Mitya, Mark, Anyuta and everybody.

Yours,

V. Ulyanov

P.S. When you or anybody else happens to be in Moscow, please buy me two books by Chelpanov, (1) Avenarius i yego shkola and (2) Immanentnaya filosofiya . They cost a
ruble each. Published by Voprosy Filosofii i Psikhologii .
The two books are issued as part of a series called either
Essays and Research, or simply research, or monographs, or
something of the sort.

Are you having a good rest this summer? The weather here is fine. I go cycling and bathing. Nadya and Y.V.
send best regards to everyone.

---
Notes:
[1]
See Letter No. 162.— Ed .

[2]
Lenin refers to his work on Materialism and Empiric-criticism .—
Ed .

[3]
M. I. Veretennikova, Lenin’s cousin. The letter and
recommendation have been lost.— Ed.