| London, 21 January 1871
1 Maitland Park Road,
Haverstock Hill, N.W.
Dear Harney,
I want
for the second volume of my
Criticism of Political Economy
documents on the disposal of public lands in the
United States
since the beginning of the Civil War. Mr
S. Meyer
, a friend of mine at New York,
has advised me to address myself to Mr
Wilson
, Commissioner of the General Land Office, Washington. As
I am not at all acquainted with the form in which this ought to be done, I
address myself to you. Perhaps, you will act as my negotiator.
In spring, there will be offered
a second
edition
in Germany of
the first volume of my work.
A Russian translation at
St Petersburg
has
been stopped by the Moscovite police,
a French edition
at Paris
by the war. An
“
homme de lettres
”
at New York proposed me
preparing an English translation for the
United
States
but I declined the offer since he seemed to me not a
competent man for the task.
By our International Council we have stirred the English working class and
provoked numerous demonstrations in favour of the French Republic and against
the policy of unctuous
Gladstone
, who has
become a servile tool in the hands of
the
granddaughter of
George III
and the
mother-in-law of
“Fritz”
. Unfortunately, some of the leading workmen—like Mr
Mottershead
, an old Chartist and a
member of our Council—have been bought up by the
Peace
Society
. They can do no harm at London but they
do
in the provinces.
The Trades' Councils at Manchester and Birmingham have lately become active
agents of the General Council of the
“International”
. At London I regret saying, most of the workmen's
representatives use their position in our council only as a means of furthering
their own petty personal aims. To get into the
House
of Commons
by hook or by crook, is their
ultima Thule
, and they like nothing better than rubbing elbows with
the lords and M. P.'s by whom they are petted and demoralised.
The state of things in Germany you may judge from
my letter to
The
Daily News
which I enclose.
Mrs Marx
and F.
Engels send you their best compliments.
Salut et fraternité
.
Yours
Karl Marx