Dear Fred,

Best thanks for the £25. The children will probably go to the seaside next week together with Mr. and Mrs. Lafargue. Lafargue has been a “member of the royal college of surgeons” since yesterday and licensed for the killing of men and beasts. // He will then go to Paris in 4–5 weeks. This puts us in great embarrassment, as my wife has at least another £20’s worth of linen to get for Laura. It seems to me that no business can be done with Borkheim. He spoke to me yesterday of the “lack of money” prevailing with him, etc. The Dutchmen, of whom I can really only make use of August Philips, are travelling. However, I shall rack my brains about how and where to scrounge up a loan, as it is indispensable. The manner of borrowing at 20% can in fact only occur with such companies as those used by Borkheim, where the people lose the capital advanced if one croaks before the due date. About the toady Dr Boruttau I know nothing more than that he also “makes” among the Lassalleans (Schweitzer faction). The most comical thing is the “French” of his dedication to a sympathetic soul in Moscow.

You will have seen that my book forms a point of discussion in the programme of the A.D.A.V. I have sent you a scribble by Dühring, which you can read despite the heat, or rather let me know your feelings about it, since it is certainly nothing strenuous. All the more tedious, however.

Prof. Beesley I saw last week at Lafargue’s. B. had been away when your article arrived. Immediately upon his return here he received it and sent it to Henry Morley (chief editor of the Fortnightly Review) in Scotland, from whence we have received no further news as yet. How do you live in this heat? All my thinking capacity deserts me in it, and without Gumpert’s medicine I could not stand it at all.

Salut,
K. M.