Hanover, 25 Sept. 1869. Dear Fred, I have received two unpleasant pieces of news from home today. Little Schnappi is very poorly and has lost 1½ lb. in weight during our short absence. Kugelmann insists – and is writing to London today in this sense – that Dr. West in London, the famous children’s doctor, and, as he believes, professor at Lafargue’s hospital (St. Bartholomews), be consulted. – Secondly, Laure again in interesting circumstances, which is equally a piece of bad luck for her and Lafargue. We have been here for eight days. We spent a few days in Belgium (Bruges and Liège), then on to Cologne. Thence a visit to the thinker Dietzgen in Siegburg. Thence to Bonn, thence by steamer to Mainz. This journey delighted Jennychen. Unfortunately spoilt by an intrusive guest. In Bonn I had visited Hagen in the evening. Not at home. He turns up the next morning at the very moment of our departure. Under the pretext of accompanying us as far as Rolandseck, he sticks to us all the way to Mainz. In Mainz we spent a day with Stumpf, who has a most charming family (daughter and sister). On this occasion an excursion to Wiesbaden. Ems was omitted. One day at Aachen with Karl Philips. During this tour through Belgium, the stay at Aachen, and the journey up the Rhine, I have convinced myself that energetic action must be taken against the priests, especially in the Catholic regions. I shall act in this sense through the International. The dogs are coquetting (e.g. Bishop Ketteler at Mainz, the priests at the Düsseldorf Congress, etc.), where it seems fitting, with the labour question. We did in fact work for them in 1848, only they enjoyed the fruits of the revolution during the reaction period. Everywhere I passed through, people knew nothing of my “L. Bonaparte”. I have sent Meissner anything but polite notes on this point. So far he has not replied. Liebknecht has written to me again about your Peasant War, which is to be printed as a propaganda pamphlet. Since this time the thing appears under the auspices of the Eisenach Central Authority, I advise you to make the necessary corrections and send the thing in without further ado. As I shall probably have a rendezvous with Wilhelm in a few days, write to me by return about your intentions. Feuerbach has written – mutatis mutandis – in a similar vein as Ruge about my book to Kapp in New York, who in turn communicated the matter to our Meyer in St. Louis. Jennychen has not yet received any ordre de retour from her employers. The thing is ticklish. On the one hand it is difficult to get away from here so quickly. On the other hand, the change is doing the dear child a great deal of good. She looks quite brilliant. Warmest greetings to Mrs. Burns and Tussychen. Salut D KM