MARX TO ENGELS?” 
IN MANCHESTER 


{London,] 23 November 1860 


Dear Frederick, 


Best thanks for the £10 and the ‘Navy’? (splendid article). 

Now, as regards my wife’s illness, it is in one respect better and 
in another worse than I was aware. For, until the character of the 
disease was definitely determined, Allen concealed its true nature 
from me. Yesterday this was no longer possible. What my wife has 
got is—smact pox, and very badly, too, although she has been twice 
vaccinated against it. (Tell no one about it except Lupus.) And 
that’s why Allen promptly removed the children from the house. 
Its a ghastly disease. Should Lenchen catch it, I shall at once 
send her to hospital. So far, I have done the nursing (the bulk of 
it) myself. But, as I find it too exhausting, I hired a nurse as soon 
as the £10 arrived today. For many weeks my wife had been in an 
exceptionally nervous state owing to our many TrousLes, and was 
thus more liable ro carcu the contagion in an omnibus, shop, or 
the like. 

Writing articles is almost our oF rHE Question for me. The only 
occupation that helps me maintain the necessary QuIETNESS OF MIND 
is mathematics. During the past weeks I have written de omnibus 
rebus” for the Tribune, mainly on the Warsaw Concress, the stare or 
Potanp, Irary, France and the money market.?°8 Nothing about 
China yet. 

Have you had the Kolatschek?‘ 

The doctor has allowed my wife claret, taken in small doses, as 
she is exceptionally weak. Last night was dreadful—indeed, at the 
moment, I myself am sick as well. 

The devil alone knows what misfortunes we suffer. 

I have boarded the poor children out witn the Liebknechts, who 
live quite close by and to whom [I sent the vicruauters daily. They 


« F. Engels, ‘Navy’. - b about everything under the sun - © See this volume, p. 213. 


125. Marx to Franz Duncker. 24 November 1860 217 


objected to going to soarpinc scoot because of the rexicious 
RIVES. 
Salut. 


Your 
K. M. 


First published in Der Briefwechsel zwischen Printed according to the original 


F. Engels und K. Marx, Bd. 2, Stuttgart, : ; ae ’ 
1913 ; Published in English in full for the 


first time