[London,] 8 December 1866 
Dear Fred, 

Meissner has not begun printing yet," as he wanted to finish off 
some other things first. I am expecting a letter from him next 
Monday. All in all, I found the delay by no means disagreeable, as 
I have only been rid of that vile carbuncle for a few days, and, 
moreover, my creditors are badgering me in a truly edifying 
manner. I only regret that private persons CAN NOt FILE THEIR BILLS FOR 
tHE Banxruprcy Courr with the same propriety as men of business. 

A while ago, Kladderadatsch printed a swipe at the Brimstone 
Gang in large type, in a bad lampoon on Collins’ The Woman in 
White. The author of this garbage is that miserable Bettziech, and 
I should not be surprised if the order had emanated from Kinkel 
or Hatzfeldt. Nor have I any doubt that the old bag was the cause 
of Liebknecht’s arrest.*™ 

The Prussian swine are acting precisely as we should wish them 
to. There will be no progress until heads roll. 

Salut. 
Your 
K. M.