SS City of Berlin, between 
Liverpool and Queenstown, 
9 August 1888 

Dear Hermann, 

I set sail yesterday on a quick trip to America”! and just wanted to 
tell you as much before we leave the last European port. We are a merry 
party of four—myself, Prof. Schorlemmer of Manchester, Dr Aveling of 
London and his wife, Marx’s youngest daughter. Schorlemmer and I 
shall be returning towards the end of September and expect to be back 
in England on 2/3 October. My being able to realise this long-standing 
plan this summer was most propitious and I had also been strongly 
advised on medical grounds to make the two longish voyages and get a 
complete change of air. 

Our ship is much more beautiful than the Berlin ashore; she is nearly 
6,000 tons and the Avelings came back from New York on her eighteen 
months ago. They know the captain, purser and crew, which is very nice. 
We have charming cabins, the fare is excellent and on top of that there is 
American lager beer, which is by no means bad, a long deck to rove 
about on and not too many passengers, provided a large number don’t 
join us at Queenstown—in short, it all promises to be very pleasant. Jam 
most eager to see the world on the other side; we shall be staying for 3 
or 4 weeks, which is just long enough, I think. 

We are nearing Queenstown, so I had better close. Mind you all keep 
well. I shall write to you again from the other side of the ocean. Regards 
to your wife and children? and all other relatives. 

With much love from 
Your old Friedrich