[London,] 2 November 1867 

Dear Frep, 

Although none of my recent carbuncles has fully developed, 
fresh ones are forever appearing; they always disappear again, But 
let me. And then my old insomnia. But it has been better for asour 
the last 3 days. The silence about my book? makes me ripcety. I 
have had no news of any kind. What good fellows the Germans 
are! Their achievements in the service of the English, French and 
even the Italians in this field would indeed entitle them to ignore 
me and my affairs. Our people over there do not have the knack 

« the first volume of Capital - > Benjamin Disraeli - © Victoria 

of agitation. Meanwhile, we must do as the Russians do—wait. 
Patience is the core of Russian diplomacy and of their successes. 
But the likes of us, who only live once, may well never live to see 
the day. 

Letter enclosed from the German communist association.*!” Well 
meant. But strangely loutish in style. 

Enclosed letter from Maughan, man of private means, old 
Owenite, very decent fellow. These people are obviously intending 
to emancipate the Freethink movement from the professional 
agitators Bradlaugh, etc. I very politely declined. On the one 
hand, it is true that I would thereby have had the chance, which I 
am wanting so much, of becoming acquainted with all manner of 
people who are to a greater or lesser extent, directly or indirectly, 
connected with the English press. On the other hand, I have not 
the time, nor do I think it right that I should figure on the Leapinc 
committee Of any English sect. 

A certain Auberon Herbert,’ brother of the Eart or Carnarvon 
and cousin to Stepney (who is member of our Central Council) and 
much dabbling in socialism (1£., co-operative Dopcrs, etc.), has asked 
Stepney to arrange a rendezvous with me. As I first want to have 
sight of the man and smell him over, I have made an appointment 
to see him next Tuesday at the Cleveland Hall, where we hold our 
meetings. This ‘channel’ (Vogt)°!” may perhaps prove useful for 
reaching publishers. 

Apropos. Subscriptions for the Internationa: now have to be 
renewed. As soon as Moore is back send your susscriprions to me 
per Post Orrice Orver (Charing Cross), but drawn on our TREASURER: 
Robert Shaw, 62 Hall Place, Hall Park, London W. It would be 
desirable for Schorlemmer to send his at the same time as you, 
even if only a Frew sumuinos. Is he back yet? When shall I be getting 
his Chemistry °? 

I don’t know whether you are familiar with the course of the 
Italian affair,°'? fragments of which have accidentellement© found 
their way into the English and German press in the form of 
extracts from Russian and other papers. It is easy to lose track of 
such threads. 

At the time of the Luxemburg affair*'? Mr Bonaparte came to 
an agreement (informal) with Victor Emmanuel, by which the 
latter was given the right to annex the remaining Papal States 

415 

a The original has: Egerton Herbert.- H. E. Roscoe, Kurzes Lehrbuch der Chemie nach 
den neuesten Ansichten der Wissenschaft. Deutsche Ausgabe, unter Mitwirkung des Verfassers 
bearbeitet von Carl Schorlemmer. - © by chance 

i7* 

except Rome, in exchange for offensive alliance against Prussia in 
the event of war. But when the Prussian hornets’ nest*” turned 
into good will to all men, Mr Bonaparte began to regret the thing 
and with his usual cunning attempted to betray Emmanuel and 
make advances to Austria. As we all know, nothing came of it in 
Salzburg either,?!? and so for a while the witches’ cauldron that is 
Europe appeared not to seethe. Meanwhile the Russian gentlemen, 
who had as usual procured a copy of the agreement, thought the 
moment had come to inform Mr Bismarck of it, who, in his turn, 
had the Prussian envoy* lay it before the Pope.” Whereupon, at 
the Pope’s instigation, the pamphlet written by Bishop Dupanloup 
of Orleans.”° On the other side, Garibaldi set on by Emmanuel. 
Subsequently: Rattazzi dismissed as an enemy of Prussia and 
Bonapartist. Hence the present imbroglio< That scoundrel 
Bonaparte is now up to his eyes in the mire. War, not just with 
Italy, but Prussia and Russia, and in a cause which in France 
enjoys the most fanatical hatred of Paris, etc., hated in England, 
etc.—or yet another retreat! The fellow attempted to save himself 
by appealing to Europe, a European Congress. But Prussia and 
England have already sent him their reply, that, having made his 
bed, he must now lie on it. The fellow does not know what year it 
is. He is no longer secret general to Russia and Europe. 

If retreat, then with present corn-prices, business in crisis and 
disaffection in France revolution is possible one FINE MORNING. 

One good thing about our Bismarck—although he is the chief 
instrument of Russian intrigues—is that he is pushing things 
towards crisis in France. However, in respect of our German 
philistines, their entire past has shown that unity can only be 
imposed on them by the grace of God and the sabre. 

The Fenian trial in Manchester exactly as was to be expected.*” 
You will have seen what a scandal ‘our people’ have caused in the 
Reform League. I sought by every means at my disposal to incite the 

English workers to demonstrate in favour of Fenianism.”! 
Salut. 

Your 
K. M. 

I once believed the separation of Ireland from England to be 

impossible. I now regard it as inevitable, although reperation may 
follow upon separation. The way the English are proceeding is 

@ Karl Georg von Usedom - > Pius IX - © confusion 

shown by the Agricultural Statistics for this year, which appeared 
a few days ago. Over and above that the manner of the eviction. 
The Irish Viceroy, Lord Abicorn? (the name is something like that), 
has ‘cleared’ his estate in the last few weeks by forcibly driving 
thousands from their homes. Among them, well-to-do tenant- 
farmers, their improvements and capital investments being thus 
confiscated! In no other European country has foreign rule 
assumed this form of direct expropriation of the natives. The 
Russians confiscate only for political reasons; the Prussians in West 
Prussia buy out.