{London,] 27 December 1861 

Dear Engels, 

When the outside world first began to ‘dun’ me, I wrote—since 
I didn’t want to be always pestering you—not only to my mother - 
and other relations, but also to Siebel. Now that young man, as I 
see from his letter, has again written to you. Consider the matter 
as non avenue” 

I am extremely vexed that you should have had to give Dronke 
an 1.0.U. for my sake. Originally, he promised to arrange the 
matter in less onerous a form and to give longer ters.°” 

I don’t yet know quite how I am to weather this crisis. Whatever 
happens—since otherwise it would be plainly impossible—I shall 
write to my LanpLorp and tell him that he cannot be paid now, that 
I intend to give him a bill, etc. 

The court case is also going wrong.” Since the point at issue 
turns ON PARTNERSHIP, My Lawyer Considers it necessary—if I am not 

4 not having happened - > See this volume, pp. 327-28 and 334. 

to be made to pay the £20—that the case be removed from the 
Suerirr's Court”* and taken before a superior court. I am due to 
appear at the Suerirr’s Court on January 3rd. My mistake lay in not 
having concluded a written contract with A. Petsch. Sidney, my 
attorney, believes I should be pretty safe in the superior court. 

The rotten Presse is printing barely half my articles. They’re 
jackasses. I wonder how they propose to pay, whether I’m 
expected to write individual articles on ‘spec’, or what? 

In the meantime, may I wish you in advance every happiness 
for the New Year. If it’s anything like the old one, I, for my part, 
would sooner consign it to the devil. 

Salut. 
Your 
K. M.