[London, mid-March 1872] 
Dear Mr Pio, 

I think I cannot give you anything better for my first 
correspondence than the preceding translation of two excellent 
articles from the Pensamento Social2 I have not the slightest idea 
who may be the author, but they show an insight into the 
economical and historical conditions of the development of 
modern society which I am astonished to find in a paper coming 
from so remote a corner of the world. 

By the bye, the article on organisation of agricultural production 
by Association from Socialisten which I got inserted in the 
published report of the Meetings of the General Council, has gone 
the round of the Spanish, Italian and American press, and I now 
find it reproduced in the Pensamento Social*” ; it has created great 
sensation and will not be without its fruit. Altogether, with regard 
to the all-important question of enlisting the small peasantry and 
Husmaendena in the proletarian movement, the Danes, owing to 
their local circumstances and to their great political intelligence, 
are now in advance of all other nations. I have told Liebknecht 
and others this, but unfortunately they are too lazy to learn 
Danish. 

Mottershead* has not attended the last three meetings of the 
General Council, but he intends, so he has told us, to resign from 
his office as Secretary for Denmark; he says he is too busy to carry 
out his duties as Secretary. 

In the meantime, I beg you to be so kind as to correspond with 
me, and I take upon myself all responsibility for any repercussions 
which might affect you vis-a-vis the General Council because of it. 
We intend to transfer the secretaryship for Denmark to a 
Frenchman, a member of the Commune de Paris.’ 

With a socialist handshake and greetings, 

F. Engels 

a Presumably the articles ‘A Ignaldade’ and ‘A Internacional’, published in O 
Pensamento Social, No. 1, February 1872. - > small tenants - © From here on up to 
and including the words ‘...literal translation’ Engels writes in Danish. - 4 Frederic 
Etienne Cournet 

I have translated the Portuguese articles into French, because this 
language permits an almost literal translation, and I have made it 
as literal as possible without regard to elegance or even correctness 
of French style.