[Manchester, 10 May 1869]

Dear Mohr,

Letter and 2 consignments received. Many thanks; enclosed, in haste for tomorrow’s meeting, £1 in stamps! sent by us here towards your Belgian subscription. The Irish pamphlet has caused a great sensation here. Ask Eichhoff whether the “Peasant War”? could be printed at his brother’s? Meissner is evidently afraid.

Here we are in the finest industrial crisis, and despite the short time* there is still too much production. The only means the manufacturers have of agreeing among themselves on short time and shutting down is – a strike of the workers. They have been systematically working towards this for 2 months now. The one in Preston! was the first attempt, now the 5% wage reduction in East Lancashire follows. If the workers accept this, a new reduction follows, and so on, until they strike, for that is the only thing that matters. This kind of strike the good Watts does not mention at all in his pamphlet, et pour cause.

When are you coming?

Yours,
F.E.