[London,] 22 July 1869 

Dear Frep, 

Wilhelm really has colossal impudence, issuing bulls of excom- 
munication on behalf of the General Council of the International.* 
I had written to him that I, personally, was keeping myself out of 
this scandal*” (Hatzfeldt, the old trollop, would like nothing 
better than to drag me in), particularly since I am just as decidedly 
against the Lassalle clique as against the People’s Party. I added 
that Wilhelm could give notice (to Schweitzer) that (in accordance 
with the resolutions of the Brussels Congress) only real members 
will be admitted at Basle. And this he did in a paragraph in the 
issue before last.*°° 

After soliciting me in vain to take official steps against 
Schweitzer, he has had the impudence to involve me in this 
scandal! I wrote him an extremely rude letter immediately upon 
receipt of the last Wochenblatt,” in which I reminded him how 
often he had already compromised me, and declared frankly that 
I would publicly disavow him as soon as he showed such 
impudence again.*”’ (Impudence which, in addition, is a lie, since 
the General Council has never discussed the Schweitzer affair, etc., 
let alone passed a resolution.) 

It depends on how Schweitzer, who has been badly provoked, now 
acts. I shall ‘cast off’ Mr Wilhelm if he should get me caught up in 
dirty work for the third time. The fellow does not even have the 
excuse that he marches with us through thick and thin. He 
commits his stupidities on his own behalf, betrays us when he sees 
fit, and identifies us with him as soon as he sees no other way out. 

For about 6 days now I have had a large carbuncle on my left 
arm which, in ‘this heat’, is not pleasant. 

I have another ‘family’ unpleasantness. I have noticed for some 
time that my wife was not able to manage on the money I give her 
every week, although there has been no increase in expenditure. 
Since I am anxious not to run into debt again, and since the 

a See the previous letter. - % ‘Man schreibt uns...’, Demokratisches Wochenblatt, 
No. 29, 17 July 1869. 

money I gave her last Monday had already ‘run out’, I asked for 
an explanation. And the daftness of females then emerged. In the 
list of debts she had made me for you* she had suppressed about 
£75, which she was now trying to pay back sy anv By out of the 
housekeeping money. Why, I asked? Reply: she would have been 
afraid to admit to the full sum! Females obviously need to be 
under constant tutelage! 

Jennychen returned yesterday. Although half a year has passed 
now, Mrs Monroe has not yet paid her. The Scots hold tight to 
their casu! *7! 

I don’t know what to do about the journey. You know that my 
only aim in this business is to provide Jennychen with the 
recreation that is practically indispensable for her. But Kugel- 
mann’s illness has changed everything. I would not go to 
Karlsbad to be his comrade-in-sickness, even if I had needed the 
trip for myself. And now to leave the child as companion with 
Frau Kugelmann.*”* Nothing at all can come of this. I expect you 
will write to tell me your opinion. 

Mr Schweitzer’s discovery that the Geneva committee consists 
mainly of workers is good!*” Bakunin and Schweitzer state 
councillors! 

Bonaparte’s rickety ways will soon lead to defections amongst his 
generals. 

Between Prussia and Russia there is a row that does not seem 
completely ‘play-acting’. 

On Monday I wrote to Meissner, tersely and rudely. 

Laura and Lafargue and son are now in lodgings in Dieppe. My 
letter from Paris to Lafargue senior had the desired effect. 

Salut. 

402 

Your 
Moor 

Both Liebknecht’s and Fritzsche’s**! letters indicate clearly that 
the delightful Wilhelm had directed the latter to me on the money 
issue. 

The ideas the Germans in general hold about our financial 
means you will see from the enclosed letter from Kugelmann, 
voce’ Bracke.*” The fellows never sent a pfennig here. The 
General Council owes 5 weeks rent, and is in debt to its secretary. 
Peculiar conceptions! 

a See this volume, pp. 169-70. - > Karlovy Vary - © See this volume, pp. 314-15. - 
qd regarding 

I do not need to see the biography business.**” This appears to 
be a sort of mania with Kugelmann.