Manchester, 23 July 1862 

Dear Lassalle, 

I should have written to you long since and thanked you for the 
many packages you have been kind enough to send me. I resolved 
to do so often enough over the past 18 months, but have been so 
taken up with doux commerce* that my private correspondence with 
all and sundry is badly in arrears. Now I hear you are in London 
and I would have liked to have come down last Saturday, but 
simply could not get away. I presently cherish a similar plan in 
respect of Friday” evening, but cannot yet say for certain whether 
I shall be able to carry it out. If at all possible, it shall be done, in 
which case I shall telegraph Marx at midday on Friday. But if it 
proves impossible, why shouldn’t you come up here on Friday 
evening or Saturday morning and spend a few days taking a look 
at the home of cotton? Then we could also slip over to Liverpool 
which is well worth the trouble, especially since you are concerning 
yourself with political economy. There’s a room in my lodgings at 
your disposal. It only takes you 5'/, hours to get here. 

So, think the matter over and, if I should be unable to take 
Saturday off, you can decide on the spur of the moment, leave 
London at 9 o’clock on Saturday morning, and be here by 2.45. 
We shall then be able to discuss everything else by word of 
mouth—either here or there. 

In the meantime, cordial regards from 

Yours, 
F. Engels