London, 19 Dec. ’68.

Dear Fred,

Thanks for your marginal notes! When I wrote to you that evening, I was agitated. But the very next morning reaction set in and I resolved to handle the matter diplomatically, exactly in keeping with your advice. Ténot’s *Province* is much better. It contains many new details for us. Had the Parisians held out for a day or two longer, the empire was *foutu*. The (republic.) movement among the country folk is much greater than we knew. Enclosed is the *Réveil*, Ledru Rollin’s organ. Delescluze is his âme damnée, républicain de vieille roche, asinus. It is the commissar of the provisional government who led the Belgians into the guet-apens of Risquons Tout. So either a traitor or an inveterate ass. Probably the latter. The workers’ asininity, wanting to give a banquet for R. Johnson, has been prevented by us. The Coningsby who took the initiative is a scoundrel. This subject was on a pleasure trip to the United States and was paid by Seward for this London reception of R. J. He is the same workman who wrote to *The Times* a year and a day ago that the workers were politically content and did not want the suffrage. If you could send me a couple of £ for the Christmas week now beginning, they would be most welcome.

Salut
Yours
KM