Brussels, [8-]9 March [1848] 
3, rue Neuve Chaussée de Louvain 
Dear Marx, 

I hope I shall hear from you tomorrow. 
All is quiet here. On Sunday? evening Jottrand told the 
Association Démocratique about what had happened to you and 

a5 March 1848 

your wife. I arrived too late to hear him, and only heard some 
furious remarks from Pellering in Flemish. Gigot spoke as well, 
and reverted to the matter. Lubliner published an article about it 
in the Emancipation? The lawyers here are furious. Maynz wants 
to take the matter up in court and says that you should institute a 
civil action on the grounds of violation of domicile, etc. Gigot is 
also to lodge a complaint. It would be capital if this were done, 
although the government has made it known that the fellow? 
would be dismissed. Yesterday Maynz provided Castiau with the 
documents he needs to interpellate on this score; I think this will 
happen tomorrow or the day after." The affair has caused a 
considerable sensation and has greatly helped to mollify anti- 
German sentiment. 

Lupus was taken to the railway station last Sunday morning 
at Il o’clock and packed off to Valenciennes, whence he has 
written and where he must still be. He did not appear before 
any tribunal. Nor was he even escorted home to pick up his 
things! °°° 

They’ve left me unmolested. From various remarks the fellows 
have let fall, it would seem that they are afraid of expelling me 
because they previously issued me with a passport, and this might 
be used against them. 

It’s a bad business in Cologne. Our three best men are in jug." 
‘I have been speaking to someone who took an active part in the 
business.© They wanted to go into the attack, but instead of 
supplying themselves with weapons, which were easily obtainable, 
they went to the town hall unarmed and let themselves be 
surrounded. It is said that most of the troops were on their side. 
The thing was initiated without rhyme or reason; if the chap’s 
reports are to be believed, they could very well have gone into the 
attack and in 2 hours all would have been over. But everything 
was organised with appalling stupidity. 

Our old friends in Cologne appear to have kept well in the 
background, although they, too, had decided to go into action. 
Little d’Ester, Daniels, Burgers put in a brief appearance but went 
off again at once, although the litthke Dr was needed on the city 
council just then.?” 

Otherwise the news from Germany is splendid. In Nassau a 
revolution completed, in Munich students, painters and workers in 
full revolt, in Kassel revolution on the doorstep, in Berlin 

a L'Emancipation, No. 67, 7 March 1848. - » Darbeck - ¢ presumably Peter Nothjung 

160 55, Engels to Marx. 8-9 March 1848 

unbounded fear and indecision, in the whole of western Germany 
freedom of the press and National Guard proclaimed; enough to 
be going along with. 

If only Frederick William IV digs his heels in! Then all will be 
won and in a few months’ time we’ll have the German Revolution. 
If he only sticks to his feudal forms! But the devil only knows 
what this capricious and crazy individual will do. 

In Cologne the whole of the petty bourgeoisie is for union with 
the French Republic; at the moment memories of 1797 are 
uppermost in their minds.?” 

Tedesco’s still in jug. I don’t know when he'll be appearing in 
court. 

A fulminating article about your affair has gone off to The 
Northern Star? 

On Sunday evening remarkable calm at the sitting of the 
Democratic Association. Resolved to petition the Chambers, 
demanding their immediate dissolution and new elections in 
accordance with the new census. The government does not wish to 
dissolve but will have to. Tomorrow evening the petition will be 
adopted and signed séance tenante. 

Jottrand’s petition to the Burgomaster and city council met 
with a very courteous rejection. 

You have no idea of the calm that reigns here. Last night, 
carnival just as usual; the French Republic is scarcely ever 
mentioned. In the cafés you can get French newspapers with 
hardly any difficulty or delay. If you didn’t know that they must, 
tant bien que mal, you’d think it was all finished here. 

On Sunday Jottrand—furious about your persecution—made a 
really good speech; Rogier’s sévices have brought him to recognise 
the class antithesis. He fulminated against the big bourgeoisie and 
entered into details—perhaps rather trite and illusory but 
economic nonetheless—to demonstrate to the petty bourgeoi- 
sie that a well-paid working class with a high rate of consump- 
tion in a republic would provide better custom for them than a 
Court and a not very numerous aristocracy. Altogether a la 
O’Connor. 

It being now too late to catch the post with this letter, I shall 
finish it tomorrow. 

a F. Engels, “Fo the Editor of The Northern Star. -» during the session - 
¢ F, Raucourt - ¢ for better or for worse - © brutalities 

Thursday 

Nothing new—I saw your article in the Réforme*—so there’s a 
rumpus going on in England as well, tant mieux? 

If you haven’t written by the time this arrives, do write at once. 

Ironically enough, my baggage has just arrived from Paris— 
costing me 50 fr.! with customs, etc., etc. 

Adieu. 

Your 
Engels 

It would seem that the Deputy Inspector of Police who came to 
your house has already been dismissed. The affair has aroused 
great indignation among the petty bourgeois here. 

{On the back of the letter] 

Monsieur Charles Marx aux soins de Madame Gsell, 
75, Boulevard Beaumarchais, Paris.