Cover Letter for the Article “Prussian Spies in London”

Karl Marx/Friedrich Engels

[Cover Letter for the Article

“Prussian Spies in London”]

Written on June 14, 1850.

According to the manuscript.

From the English.

To the Editor of the “Spectator”

(Personal)

Sir,

we take the liberty of requesting you to let the enclosed letter appear in your next number.(1) We have every reason to believe that the Government is considering putting the Aliens Bill through and obtaining confirmation by Parliament afterwards. As it appears, we are to be the first victims. We are of the opinion that it is in the interest of the honour of the English nation to prevent the execution of such a plan. We likewise believe we can do nothing better against it than to frankly appeal to public opinion regarding the British Government. And for that reason we hope you will not deny our letter the publicity which your widely circulated paper offers a sure guarantee for.

Should you desire further information, we are quite ready to give it to you, if you will kindly let us know when and where we might speak with you.

We remain, Sir,

Yours respectfully

Footnotes

(1) [Deleted in the manuscript:] The system of espionage which the British Government has been employing against us on an almost incredible scale is sufficient proof that the repeated demands of the Prussian envoy –