MARX TO ELEANOR MARX”? 

Ventnor, 8 January 1883 
1 St Boniface Gardens 

Dear Tussychen, 

I received a short note on Saturday from Dr Williamson enclosing 
a letter to Williamson from Dr F. Bayshawe dated 4 January ’83, 
5 Warrior Square, St Leonards on Sea, in which he says amongst 
other things: 

*‘We had a week of almost continuous rain or moist air, which gave place on the 
2nd to dry weather, of varying direction, Since that we have had sunshine each after- 
noon, tho’ not much of it. I will endeavour to send you some further statistics tomor- 
row. I believe we may say generally that the climate of Hastings is dryer than much of 
the South Coast, tho’ this may be at the expense of some warmth etc.’ * 

On Saturday (6 January) the weather here was fine round about 
midday; yesterday, too, it was dry, but colder; it is always sunniest on 
the esplanade. I went for a stroll yesterday and the day before, and 
today it promises to remain fine. It is generally coolish unless one is 
actually in the sun. At all events, a steady rise in temperature has now 
been predicted. 

There’s always Hastings to move to if prospects here prove decep- 
tive; besides which, there comes a moment when a change of place is 
of itself beneficial. This much at least we know — there is some sense 
in exchanging Ventnor for Hastings, but not for places on the South 
Coast that are closer to Ventnor and in which conditions are almost 
exactly the same as in the Isle of Wight. 

Every now and again I still have to tussle furiously with the accu- 
mulation of mucus; after getting up on Saturday morning I even had 
a spasmodic attack [of coughing] so that for several seconds I vainly 
struggled for breath. I believe it was due to nervous irritation-— my 
anxiety over Jennychen! Upon that I need not enlarge. I would have 
hastened to Argenteuil at once, but for the possibility of saddling the 
child with the extra burden of a sick visitor! For no one can guarantee 

that the journey woutp [not] HAVE PUNISHED ME WITH A RELAPSE such as 
I have so far fortunately escaped. All the same, it’s hard not being 
able to go and see her. 

Love from 
Old Nick