Hanover, 1 May 1867 
(c/o Dr Kugelmann) 

Dear Sir, 

Although we are entirely unacquainted, I am taking the liberty 
of addressing a personal letter to you, on a personal, although at 
the same time scientific, matter; and I hope you will excuse my so 
doing on account of the confidence you inspire in me as a man of 
science and of the party. 

I have come to Germany to deliver the first volume of my work 
‘Capital. A Critique of Political Economy’ to my publisher, Mr Otto 
Meissner in Hamburg. I have to stay here a few days longer to see 

if it will be possible for the printing to be done as quickly as Mr 
Meissner intends, viz., whether the proof-readers are sufficiently 
learned for such a mode of operation. 

The reason I am writing to you personally is this: I should like 
to have the thing published in French as well, in Paris, after its 
publication in Germany. I cannot go there myself, at least not 
without risk, as I have been expelled from France, first under 
Louis Philippe and a second time under Louis Bonaparte 
(Président),“* and finally I have been ceaselessly attacking Mr 
Louis during my exile in London. I cannot therefore go personally 
to seek out a translator. I know that your work on ‘Stoff und 
Kraft’* has appeared in French, and therefore suppose that you 
can put me in touch, directly or indirectly, with a suitable person. 
As I have to prepare the second volume for printing this summer 
and the concluding third volume next winter, I do not have the 
time to attend to the French version of the book ** myself. 

I consider it to be of the greatest importance to emancipate the 
French from the erroneous views under which Proudhon with his 
idealised petty bourgeoisie has buried them. At the recent 
congress in Geneva,”” ditto in the links that I have with the Paris 
branch as a member of the General Council of the International ° 
Working Men’s Association, I am constantly confronted with 
Proudhonism’s most repugnant consequences. 

As I do not know for how long I shall be staying here, I should 
be obliged to you for an early answer. If I, for my part, can be of 
any service to you in London, I shall do so with the greatest 
pleasure. 

Yours most respectfully 
Karl Marx