Margate, 6 April 1866 
5 Lansell’s Place 

Dear Fren, 

I have been greatly restored here, and not the smallest sign of a 
return of the atrocious carbuncles. The spot where the last and 
most malignant one was still feels a little tender. Perhaps it healed 
too quickly and an atom of pus is still lurking beneath the healed 
skin. However, if that were so, the warm sea bathes and the rough 
towel that I dry myself with would no doubt have dissipated the 
foul matter; and indeed in the last two days this vestige of the 
wound seems to be disappearing altogether. The only drawback is 
a recurrence here of rheumatic pains in my right shoulder, which 
is seriously disturbing my sleep. I have now been here for nearly 4 
weeks and have lived for my health’s sake alone. It is time to put a 
stop to that soon. 

Our letters crossed, so that you have answered mine. You do 
not mention the possibility of Italy creating a diversion for 
Prussia’s benefit. 

There can be no shadow of doubt that Russia is behind the 
Prussians, although she is allowing Mr Bonaparte to act as arbiter 
on the stage. One must not lose sight of the fact (to use a Hegelian 
turn of phrase) that the Danusian mine*! was sprunc at the very 
moment that Bismarck made his démarche.*’* 

Even granted, which is probable, that the Prussian curs 
withdraw with their tails between their legs, it remains clear, and 
must become clear even to the German philistines, that unless there 
is a revolution in Germany, the Hohenzollern and Habsburg curs 
will throw our country back for another 50-100 years by civil 
(dynastic) war. 

I must tell you frankly that the ‘Internationa’ is in a sorry state, 
particularly since the impatience of the French has led to the 
congress being fixed for the end of May.?*° 

Tue Fact ts THIs, that the English teapers in London, now that we 
have given them a platform (to which must be added the inability 
of any Englishman to do two things at once), are very cool within 
our Movement proper. My absence for almost 3 months has done 

untold harm. What is to be done? In France, Belgium, Swit- 
zerland (and here and there in Germany, and even sporadical- 
ly in America) the Association has made great and sustained 
progress. In England, the reform movement, which we brought 
into being, has almost kuLep us. That would be of no consequence, 
if the Geneva Congress had not been announced for the end of 
May, and if the Parisians, for whom this movement is the sole 
possibility, had not, through their own paper Le Congres, made it 
almost impossible to prorogue the congress.?'* The English would 
soon see the rottenness of the reform Movement, aS it now is. After 
my return the threat of flirtation with the Potter-clique, etc., would 
soon put everything back on the right lines. But THERE 1s No Time. For 
the English even the ramure of the congress is a trifle. But for us? A 
fiasco of European dimensions!! I really do see scarcely a way out. The 
English have neglected to do anything which might give the congress 
any kind of respectable form. Que faire!* Do you think I should go to 
Paris to put to the people there how impossible the congress now is? 
Answer soon. The only possible way out I can see is by agreement 
with the Parisians. On the other hand, I know that their position 
itself is at stake if the congress does not take place. Que fatre! Mr 
Vésinier has challenged our Parisians. They are to go to Belgium to 
shoot it out with him. L’imbécile. Astro Orsini, I knew that there was 
nothing you could do. But I could not refuse him the introduction to 
you. 

Your 
K. M.