Brighton, 4 March 1877 
42 King’s Road 

Dear Lessner, 

This morning I got a letter from Hoffmann, 9 Hayes Court, 
Soho, to whom I had already sent two pounds through you. One 
child died before Christmas, a second on 15 February and on 
25 February he lost his wife; he asks me for help, since he has not 
yet paid off the funeral expenses for the child and doesn’t know 
how he can meet those for his wife, who is to be buried today, and 
which amount to £4. The letter (of 28 February) remained in 
London unattended to and hence I couldn’t do anything for him 
in time; moreover today is Sunday when no action can be taken. 
Will you be so good as to call on the man and see what can be 
arranged and how things are with him, and if you have a pound 
or 30s. at your disposal you could, depending on the cir- 
cumstances, give it to him on my behalf, or else write and tell me 
straight away what you think of the matter and I can send a Posr 
Orrice order. Above all make it clear to the man that I didn’t get 
his letter until this morning and was therefore unable to do 
anything. 

I had to bring my wife here so that she could recover somewhat 
from her debility 249 and this she has managed to do; she is much 

2 summary (of the first volume of Capital). - > See this volume, p. 194. 

better and I trust she will remain so. We go back on Tuesday 
week,* and a day or two after that Pumps will also be returning, 
accompanied by Miss Lina Schéler. 

My wife sends her warm regards to you and yours and also to 
Nelli, as does 

Your old friend, 

F. Engels