ENGELS TO MARX *” 

Manchester, 13 January 1863 

Dear Marx, 

You will find it quite in order that, this time, my own 
misfortune and the frosty view you took of it should have made it 
positively impossible for me to reply to you any sooner. 

All my friends, including philistine acquaintances, have on this 
occasion, which in all conscience must needs afflict me deeply, 
given me proof of greater sympathy and friendship than I could 
have looked for. You thought it a fit moment to assert the 
superiority of your ‘dispassionate turn of mind’. Soit!* 

You know the state of my finances. You also know that I do all I 
can to drag you out of the mire. But I cannot raise the largish 
sum of which you speak, as you must also know. Three things can 
be done: . 

1. Loan society. To what extent my guarantee would serve here 
remains to be seen—scarcely at all, no doubt, since I am not a 
HOUSEHOLDER. 

a So be it then! 

2. Life assurance. John Watts is manacer of the European Life 
& Guarantee Society, of which the London orrice is certainly in the 
pirecrory. I don’t see what there is to prevent you insuring your 
life for £400, and he will certainly make you a loan of £200 on 
the policy, since that is his business. If not completely ruinous, this 
is definitely the best way. So, you had best go straight to him, 
inquire about the rerms and then inform me of them straight away. 

3. If the worst comes to the worst, I might be able to raise about 
£25 in February—certainly not before—and am also prepared to 
sign a bill for £60, though I have got to have every assurance that it 
won’t have to be paid till after 30 June 1863, i.e. be assured of an 
extension until then. I must be given the necessary guarantees to 
that effect. In which case you would have to extract what was 
lacking from your uncle in Holland* without fail. 

I can see no other possibility. 

So, let me know what steps you take and I will see to my side of 
it. 

Your 
F. E.