London, 1 February 1873 
1 Maitland Park Road, 
Haverstock Hill, N. W. 

My dear Fanton, 

I have decided to write to you about a matter concerning our 
friend Dupont. Since you left, he has been working steadily and 
conscientiously. He was lucky enough to find an honest and skilful 
German workman who has the necessary set of tools worth nearly 
£500 St., thereby enabling Dupont to set up a small workshop 
with him where they not only make instruments based on 
Dupont’s invention, but also manufacture improved versions of 
old instruments. I have seen them at work. 

Unfortunately they have come to the end of their resources. 
Yesterday I obtained a Joan of £8 St. for Dupont, but cannot be of 
greater help to him, since my disbursements for the French 
refugees* (more than £150 St.) have left me flat broke. This is a 
critical moment for their enterprise. 

1 hope you won’t abandon our friend. If you come to his 
assistance, I shall see to it that funds are made available to him 
only as and when they are needed for the work, which would go 
ahead under my supervision. 

With warm regards from all the family, 

Yours ever, 

Karl Marx