MARX TO LUDWIG KUGELMANN © 

Margate, 6 April 1866 
5 Lansell’s Place 

Dear Friend, 

I shall return to London from here the day after tomorrow. My 
doctor banished me to this seaside place, where I am indeed much 
recovered. But another two months and more—February, March 
and half of April have thus been entirely lost to me again, and the 
completion of my book* put back once more! It is enough to drive 
one out of one’s mind. 

a See this volume, pp. 252-53. - > Ernestine Liebknecht - © Capital 

I was suffering from carsuncies, not furuncles. It was a 
dangerous business this time. You are, of course, right that 
‘dietetic’ sins lay behind it. I am too accustomed to working at 
night, studying by day and writing by night. That, together with 
all manner of worries, private and public, and—-whenever I am 
immersed in work—neglect of regular diet, exercise, etc., is quite 
enough to upset the blood. 

I received Mr Menke’s contribution of 10 talers for the 
‘International’ with your letter.? I have not got the addresses of my 
French friends in Paris here. However, if Mr Menke approaches 
my friend K. Kaub (33, Rue des trois Couronnes du Temple), the 
latter can introduce him to V. Schily (German) and Tolain, 
Fribourg, etc., the people on the Paris Committee. 

The news from Germany is rather depressing.*” Prussia is being 
egged on by Russia (and Bonaparte), Austria by the latter 
(following on rather reluctantly, in self-defence). Will our philis- 
tines at last realise that, unless there is a revolution to remove the 
Habsburgs and Hohenzollerns (it being superfluous to mention 
the lesser dung-beetles), another Thirty Years’ War *”° and another 
partition of Germany are ultimately inevitable! 

A movement on the part of the Italians might help Prussia. But 
just considering Austria and Prussia on their own, the latter would 
almost certainly be at a disadvantage, for all their bragging about 
Düppel.” At all events, Benedek is a better General than Prince 
Frederick Charles. Austria might well impose a peace on Prussia 
SINGLE-HANDED, but Prussia cannot do so on Austria. Any Prussian 
success would be an encouragement to Bonaparte to interfere. 

Bismarck may perhaps have already drawn in his horns again as 
I write these lines to you. But that, too, would only delay the 
conflict. Such a delay is probable in my opinion. 

This turmoil in Germany is an extraordinary piece of luck for 
Bonaparte. His position is completely undermined. But war would 
give him a new lease of life. 

Write to me soon, and in particular about the situation in 
Germany. 

Yours 
K. M.