London, 26 August 1868 

Dear Frep, 

Still no ‘surpiies’ from Germany. It is, of course, idiotic to depend 
completely upon half-promises. But if you are drowning you 
clutch at every straw. On Friday* the bill of exchange for £12, 
about which I wrote to you, is due. Since nothing had arrived by 
today, and to have no protest in the house, I just visited my baker, 
who told me he could ‘perhaps’ get the money by tomorrow 
evening, but only for a few days. At the same time, I have 
received the enclosed scrawl from my Lanpiorp. That everything 
should happen to one just at this time. It is enough to drive one 
mad. 

Bring me back or send me the screed by Becker.“ His 
theoretical-political-economic criticisms of Lassalle have been 
copied from your pamphlet on the military question. 

This Becker has done us a great service with his Seileriana. He 
deserves to be Lassalle’s ‘testamentary successor’.'?’ 

The invitation which I received to the congress of the General 
Association of German Workers (Hamburg, 22-25 August)’ is 
signed by Schweitzer as President and by more than 20 workers 
from different districts of Germany (members of the Executive 
Committee). I had to take the latter into consideration in my reply.° 
I explained that I could not come because of the work of the 
Central Council of the International Working Men’s Association, 
and said I was glad to see that the starting points of any ‘serious’ 
workers’ movement—agitation for complete political freedom, 
regulation of the working day and international co-operation of 
the working class—were emphasised in their programme for the 
congress.’ That is to say, in other words, I congratulated them on 

a 28 August-> See this volume, p. 87.-¢ B. Becker, Enthüllungen tiber das tragische 
Lebensende Ferdinand Lassalle’s.-4 F. Engels, The Prussian Military Question and the 
German Workers’ Party.-¢ ‘To the President and Executive Committee of the General 
Association of German Workers’.-f ‘Programm der Generalversammlung des 
Allgemeinen deutschen Arbeiter-Vereins, stattfindend in Hamburg, vom 22. bis 
25. August 1868’, Die Zukunft, No. 266, 10 July 1868, and Der Social-Demokrat, 
No. 98, 21 August 1868. 

having abandoned Lassalle’s programme.* Whether they will notice 
the point remains to be seen. Schweitzer, the only man with brains 
in the whole Lassalle gang, will certainly detect it. But whether he 
will think it advisable to show this or to pretend to be dense, nous 
verrons.” 

Your 
K. M.