Manchester, Friday, 28 October 1859
(Fragment)

I The affair with Blind is most amusing; it is always a particularly pleasant spectacle when the diplomatic clever-cleverness gets itself into a fix. The fellow can be dreadfully compromised by it. He had of course given you his “word of honour” only in the diplomatic sense of the word, just as it is not an insult to call someone a swine-hound in a parliamentary sense. This enrichment of the language by Blind is to be acknowledged. Incidentally, it would be best of all if it turned out that Herr Blind’s “proofs” rested merely on boasting, and I consider this quite possible with this ill-starred saviour of his country.

Lupus is in despair over the deterioration of the bitter beer, which compels him to drink porter and half-and-half; otherwise he is fairly well and lives as before in Chatsworth.

Recently Siebel received a letter from a ridiculous German literary man who, for want of money, wanted to sell himself to the revolution and asked him to mediate the business; I was to make the purchase. He threatened at the same time that if the revolution did not want to buy him, he would throw himself into the arms of the Jesuits. They, however, won’t take him even for nothing, for I need hardly tell you that the fellow is a colossal dolt.

Warm regards to your wife and children.
Your F. E.
Manchester, 28 Oct. 59.