[London,] 11 January 1868 

Dear Frep, 

The ‘Fop’* was bustling around for a long time in London. He 
also visited Borkheim, where he produced just the same phrases as 
he did to you, only with better success, for he knew how to tickle 
the vanity of our Borkheim. But after he had squeezed out of the 
latter money for 10 shares, ditto assimilated various of his wines, 
he was not seen there again. For the understanding of his further 
activity in London, the following preliminary report. Cremer, as 
you know, was removed a long time since from his post as 
secretary Of the International Councit, and in his anger at this he 
long ago resigned as MEMBER oF THE Counci., and was not re-elected 
as such by the last congress either.” Mr Odger was re-elected. On 
my proposal, however, the post of president (the annual one) was 
abolished, and replaced by a cuairman, to be elected at each 
sitting.*? Odger, annoyed by this, stays away from us on principle. 
Wet! Mr ‘Fop’ insinuates himself via Le Lubez to Odger (who 
introduced him to the Lonpon Trapes Counci )*) and to Cremer. 
They appointed a London committee,° Beales as presipent, etc. In 
short, an affair against the Internationa, Workinc Men's Association. 
(At the founding meerinc Fop also introduced the noble Blind.) 
The fellows had the impudence to invite me to their 2nd meeting 
Last WEEK. Eccarius (in a very badly written article in the Bee-Hive 
last Saturday) denounced Fop and his consorts.¢ 

I am writing to you naked and with alcohol compresses. I went 
out again for the first time the day before yesterday, to the British 
Museum, of course, because I cannot write yet. Then yesterday 
there was a new outbreak under my left breast. The alcohol 
treatment, which Nélaton used in Paris for even the largest 
carbuncles, is, from my personal experience, by far the speediest and 
pleasantest for the patient (apart from cutting or lancing, 
depending on the case). The misfortune is only the constant 

a Amand Goegg. In German ‘Geck’ means a ‘dandy’ or ‘fop’. - > Lausanne Congress 
of the International - © presumably the committee of the London branch of the 
League of Peace and Freedom - 4 J. G. Eccarius, ‘The Geneva Peace Congress’, The 
Bee-Hive Newspaper, No. 325, 4 January 1868. 

activity, necessitated by the rapid evaporation of the alcohol. 

At the museum, where I did nothing but leaf through 
catalogues, I also noted that Dühring is a great philosopher. For 
he has written a Natürliche Dialektik against Hegel’s ‘un-natural’ 
one. Hine illae lacrimae* The gentlemen in Germany (with the 
exception of theological reactionaries) believe Hegel’s dialectic to 
be a ‘dead dog’.**’ Feuerbach has much on his conscience in this 
respect. 

The French government has started a prosecution against the 
Paris Committee of the International Workincmen’s Association (as 
société illicite’). This is very agreeable for me, since it means that 
the jackasses have been hindered and interrupted in their 
discussion of the programme they had already drawn up for the 
congress of 1868.°? Dupont has apparently written something 
incautious about the Fenians” to his Paris correspondents that 
Bonaparte, who is now creeping dolefully up the arse of the 
British government, forwarded to Downing Street.‘ 

It is characteristic that the disclosures of Prokesch-Osten, Gentz 
and Count Münster¢ are being printed one after the other—with 
the direct or indirect collaboration of the Austrian government. 
Urquhart, with his ignorance now becoming permanent, knows 
only the first one. It is also very indicative of his ‘totality’, that he 
does not know Moltke’s Turkish War of 1828, etc.,© which would 
have provided him with excellent material. Incidentally, at the 
time when I was in Berlin (at Lassalle’s) 8? Moltke was regarded as 
a declared Russophobe, inside the Royal Prussian frontiers, 
naturally. 

If you should be writing to Borkheim some time, request him to 
let you have a look at the two small Russian pamphlets about which I 
had told you. I would particularly like you to look at the one about 
the emancipation of the serfs, so that you can let me know the 
quintessence. 

From the enclosed Courrier francais you will see that the French 
government is entering into a direct polemic with General 
Cluseret. 

If you could send little Tussy cotton-yarn ball on the 16th of 

a Hence these tears! (Terence, Andria, Act I, Scene 1). - > illegal society (see this 
volume, p. 517) -¢ seat of the British Cabinet - 4 A. Prokesch-Osten, Geschichte 
des Abfalls der Griechen vom Türkischen Reiche im Jahre 1821 und der Gründung des 
Hellenischen Kénigreiches, Fr. von Gentz, Aus dem Nachlasse Friedrichs von Gentz; 
G. H. Minster, Politische Skizzen tiber die Lage Europas vom Wiener Congress bis zur 
Gegenwart (1815-1867). -€ H. K. B. Moltke, Der russisch-ttirkische Feldzug in der 
europdischen Türkei 1828 und 1829.