MARX TO JENNY LONGUET 
IN LONDON 

[Ramsgate, between 20 and 24 April 1874] 
Dear Jennychen, 

I am sending the épreuves* today. Please let me have them back 
after Longuet has looked through them. I shall then make a 
definitive version of the copy to be sent to Paris.” 

Today was the first day I have been able to do even the slightest 
amount of work. Up to now, despite baths, walks, marvellous air, 
care with my diet, etc., my condition was even worse than in 
London. Proof that the matter had reached a crisis point and that 
it was high time for me to disappear. For the same reason I am 
delaying my return, for it is absolutely vital for me to be fit for 
work when I come back. Engels’ letter,’’ saying that he is arriving 
today, reminds me of one of the reasons, I suppose, for your not 
coming. How is your health? I am convinced that a few weeks at 
the seasip— would restore you completely. At present it is in fact 
more pleasant and soothing than during the actual season. 

{ hope that my darling Putty” will still recognise me. 

Tell Tussychen that the ‘sacrep music’—sacrée musique, as she 
translated it—was not actually known by this name among the 
frivolous Parisians, but that what it referred to had come from Italy, 
where they have always turned the Divine into a comedy, and was 
known as ‘concerts spirituels’ in Diderot’s day. 

Pour la bonne bouche‘ Grimm retells the following witticism of the 
Chevalier de Boufflers: 

‘Les princes ont plus besoin d’étre divertis qu’adorés; il n’y a que Dieu qui ait un 
assex grand fonds de gaieté pour ne pas s’ennuyer de tous les hommages qu’on lui 
rend, 

Adieu, my darling. 

aed Your 
Op Nick * 

First published in Annali, an. 1, Milano, Printed according to the original 
1958 

a proofs (of the French edition of the first volume of Capital) -> nickname of 
Charles, first-born of Jenny Longuet - © As a final titbit - d ‘Princes would rather be 
distracted than worshipped; only God has a sense of humour great enough to prevent him 
from being bored by all the homage he receives.’ See F. M. Grimm, Correspondance 
littéraire, philosophique et critique de Grimm et de Diderot, depuis 1753 jusqu’en 1790, 
Vol. 7, Paris, 1829, p. 449. - © jocular name for Marx 

16 10. Marx to Maurice Lachatre. 12 May 1874 

10