London, 8 February 1895 

My dear Plekhanov, 

Freyberger will happily undertake to give Vera" an examination, but how 
shall we make it seem plausible to her? Naturally, Freyberger cannot go to 
her and say: George Plekhanov has asked me to take a look at you. You will 
have to speak to her about it first, and obtain her consent, and then the best 
would be for her to talk to me, and I will take care of the rest. Or else she can 
talk to Louise Freyberger if she prefers, and Louise will see to everything. 
That is my suggestion, but if you think you have another idea on how to 
achieve your aim, tell me about it, and we can discuss it. 

Vera has given me your book,” for which my thanks. I have begun to read 
it, but it will take time. However, it is a great success to have managed to 
have it published in your country. That is a step forward, and even if we 
cannot retain the new position we have just gained, a precedent has 

“ Vera Zasulich - The reference is to G. V. Plekhanov [name in Russian], The Development of 
the Monist View of History [in Russian], published in St. Petersburg under the pen-name of N. 
Beltov [name in Russian] 

been established, the ice is broken. The suppression of the Russkaya Zhizn 
(Russian Life)* would seem to mark the beginning of reaction. Nikolai would 
seem to want to prepare his moujiks” for liberty by compulsory education, so 
that only the next generation will be ripe for the constitution; it is still just 
another formula for the old: aprés nous le déluge! °° However the deluge is 
like the devil in Faust! den Teufel spürt das Völkchen nie, und wenn er sie 
beim Kragen hatte— 

And when the Devil of the revolution has someone at his collar, then he 
has Nicholas II. 

As for my health, it is better than it has been for a long time. My digestion 
is good, my respiratory system working perfectly, I sleep my seven hours per 
night, and work with pleasure—happy to be able, at last! to recommence my 
own work after an interruption of almost a year: proofs of the 3" volume, 
correspondence, moving house, intestinal trouble, etc., etc. 

Greetings to Mme Plekhanov and to Axelrod from myself, and also from 
Ludwig and Louise Freyberger. 

Yours, 
F. Engels 

You did not give me any special address, and therefore I am using the old 
one.