London, 3 March 1869. Dear Fred,

Iterum Crispinus! Our worthy Wilhelm has his own proceedings. First he reprints Eccarius’s article on “Tailoring in London” from the Revue der Neuen Rheinischen Zeitung, without asking Eccarius and without citing the Revue as his source. Then he writes to Eccarius that he wants to have the article reprinted as a pamphlet. Eccarius replies to him: in that case a second chapter is necessary, because, what Wilhelm in his copying mania overlooked, conditions have completely changed in the last 19 years. But second Wilhelminian trick: He writes to Eccarius: he should send him the number of the Revue containing your article on the German “Peasant War”. So Wilhelm wanted to have your article reprinted without your prior knowledge and again without citing the Revue. Fortunately, Eccarius informed me yesterday evening in the General Council. I told him that I would write to you about the matter and that Eccarius should for the time being send him nothing. Now as regards the matter itself, I still have a spare copy which I could send to Wilhelm. I also think – even in the event that we later publish our collected essays together – the reprint in W[ilhelm]’s little paper does us no harm, and the immediate effect of the reprint would be very good. But, under all circumstances, Wilhelm must not be permitted to publish the article as an original contribution for him, instead of as a reprint from the Revue. Write to me at once with your decision.

Another oddity. You will perhaps have seen in the A.A.Z. that we both figure as contributors to a workers’ paper to be published by Oberwinter in Vienna. The matter stands thus: About 4 weeks before New Year’s Day, Oberwinter had Wilhelm write to me that he wished to bring out an almanac, and for that purpose my biography. I was to send the necessary things to O. I sent him simply the facts and a few documents (Cologne trials, etc.). Heard nothing further of the matter. Now, some weeks since, O. writes to me that the almanac has come to nothing. Instead, he will put the thing into a paper to be brought out by him. Some 6–7,000 subscribers are already secured. He asked for my collaboration. I forgot to answer him, shall do it today. For the rest, I think it good if we have a foot in Vienna.

Salut.
Your K. M.

By the way. What does the German merchant cattle understand 1) by primage? 2) by commission for the rembours?