If events had not apologised for me, I would have abandoned 
any attempt at an excuse. It stands to reason that I regard it as an 
honour to contribute to the Anekdota and only unpleasant 
extraneous circumstances prevented me from sending you my 
articles. 

From April to the present day I have been able to work for a 
total of perhaps only four weeks at most, and that not without 
interruption. I had to spend six weeks in Trier in connection with 
another death. The rest of the time was split up and poisoned by 
the most unpleasant family controversies. My family laid obstacles 
in my way, which, despite the prosperity of the family, put me for 
the moment in very serious straits. I cannot possibly burden you 
with the story of these private scandals; it is truly fortunate 
that scandals of a public nature make it impossible for a man of 
character to be irritated over private ones. During this time I was 
writing for the Rheinische Zeitung, to which I should long ago have 
sent my articles, etc., etc. I would have informed you long before 
about these intermezzos, had I not hoped from day to day to be 
able to complete my work. In a few day’s time I am going to Bonn 
and shall not touch a thing until I have finished the contributions 
for the Anekdota. Of course, in this state of affairs I was not able 
to elaborate in particular the article “On Art and Religion” as 
thoroughly as the subject requires. 

Incidentally, do not imagine that we on the Rhine live in a 
political Eldorado. The most unswerving persistence is required to 
push through a newspaper like the Rheinische Zeitung. My second 
article on the Provincial Assembly, dealing with the question of 
clerical discords, was deleted by the censor. I showed in this 
article how the defenders of the state adopted a clerical stand- 
point, and the defenders of the church a state standpoint. This 
incident is all the more unpleasant for the Rheinische Zeitung 
because the stupid Cologne Catholics fell into the trap, and 
defence of the Archbishop? would have attracted subscribers. 
Incidentally, you can hardly imagine how contemptible are oppres- 

sors and at the same time how stupidly they dealt with the 
orthodox blockhead.* But the matter.has had a successful ending: 
before the entire world, Prussia has kissed the Pope’s mule, and 
our government automatons walk the streets without blushing. 
The Rheinische Zeitung has now put in an appeal about the article. 
In general, the fight for the Rheinische Zeitung is beginning. In the 
Kolnische Zeitung, the author of the leading articles, Hermes, 
ex-editor of the former political Hannoverzeitung, has taken the 
side of Christianity against the philosophical newspapers in KGnigs- 
berg and Cologne. If the censor does not again play some trick, 
a reply from me will be published in the next Supplement.‘ The reli- 
gious party is the most dangerous in the Rhine area. The opposition 
has of late become too accustomed to opposing within the church. 

Do you know any details about the so-called “Free”? The article 
in the Konigsberger Zeitung was, to say the least, undiplomatic. It 
is one thing to declare for emancipation—that is honest; it is | 
another thing to start off by shouting it out as propaganda; that 
sounds like bragging and irritates the philistine. And then, reflect | 
on who are these “Free”, a man like Meyen, etc. But, at any rate, 
if there is a suitable city for such ventures, it is Berlin. 

I shall probably be drawn into a prolonged polemic with the 
Cologne Hermes. No matter how ignorant, shallow and trivial the 
man is, thanks precisely to these qualities he is the mouthpiece 
of philistinism and I intend not to let him go on chattering. 
Mediocrity should no longer enjoy the privilege of immunity. 
Hermes will also try to saddle me with “The Free”, about whom, 
unfortunately, I do not know the slightest thing for sure. It is 
fortunate that Bauer is in Berlin. He, at least, will not allow any 
“stupidities” to be committed, and the only thing that disquiets me 
in this affair (if it is true and not merely a deliberate newspaper 
fabrication), is the probability that the insipidity of the Berliners 
will make their good cause ridiculous and that in a serious matter 
they will not be able to avoid various “‘stupidities”. Anyone who 
has spent as much time among these people as I have will find 
that this anxiety is not without foundation. 

How are you getting on with your Jahrbücher?? 

As you are at the centre of philosophical and theological news, I 
should like nothing better than to learn something from you about 

To Dagobert Oppenheim. Approximately August 25, 1842 39] 

the present situation. True, the movement of the hour-hand is 
visible here, but not that of the minute-hand. - 

Old Marheineke seems to have considered it necessary to 
provide the whole world with documentary proof of the complete 
impotence of the old Hegelianism.? His vote is a disgraceful vote. 

Will the Saxons in this Assembly not denounce the censorship? 
Fine constitutionalism! 

Hoping to hear from you soon, 

Yours, 
Marx 

Rutenberg is a weight on my conscience. I brought him on to 
the editorial board of the Rheinische Zeitung, but he is absolutely 
incapable. Sooner or later he will be shown the door. 

What do you advise if the article on the Archbishop is not stamped 
for publication by the high police censorship? It must appear in print 
because of 1) our Provincial Assembly, 2) the government, 3) the 
Christian state. Should I, perhaps, send it to Hoffmann and Campe? 
It does not seem to me suitable for the Anekdota.