IN ZALT-BOMMEL 

London, 17 August 1864 
1 Modena Villas, Maitland Park, 
Haverstock Hill 

Dear Uncle, 

I found your letter waiting for me here when I came back from 
the British Museum yesterday evening. It was already too late for 
me to reply straight away. I need not tell you how alarmed I and 
all the family were by the contents of your letter.°“ One thing we 
failed to understand. Why didn’t you leave the house instantly 
with Nettchen*? I would advise you to do so even now. When the 
same thing happened in my family, I immediately sent the 
children away; and the giantess” can be nursed perfectly well 
without you. Why court danger unnecessarily? You will forgive me 
for interfering, but I feel too worried about you to mince Marters. In 
fact, I am sorry that I am not with you in person, for this disease 
has no effect upon me, as I know from experience and, had you 
really insisted on not leaving the house (sur wuy nor?), I could have 
stood by you at this time of crisis, for in such crises two are better 
able than one, and three better able than two, ‘ro KILL TIME AND ROUGH 
IT. 

I have written to Nettchen about our own recent doings,*? and 
she will pass on to you what little is worth mentioning. On the 

a Antoinette Philips - > a servant in the Philips household 

whole, things are going quite well here and all members of the 
family are reasonably fit. 

Just now there’s a political and social Jul] here. Everyone who 
can, makes off, either abroad or to seaside resorts in this country. 
The monotony is broken only by daily reports of terrible ramway 
accidents. Capital over here isn’t as much subject to police 
supervision as on the Continent, and hence it’s of no concern 
whatever to the Ramway DIRECTORS HOW MANY PEOPRE ARE KILLED DURING AN 
EXCURSION SEASON, If ONLY THE BALANCE LOOKS TO THE COMFORTABLE SIDE. All 
attempts to make these ramway kings responsible for their yomicipa. 
NEGLECT OF ALL PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES have hitherto come to grief asa 
result of the great influence exerted by the ratway interesr in the 
Houser or Commons. 

Another source of distraction over here is the anxiery PREVAILING IN 
MERCANTILE CIRCLES BECAUSE OF THE RISE OF THE RATE OF Discount! It is certain 
that, if the present rate or piscounr remains at its present high for a 
few more weeks, there wil] be a great crash among the myriads of 
SWINDLING JOINT STOCK Companies, Which have been springing up like 
mushrooms this year. Already, here and there in the Ciry a major 
bankruptcy heralds the approaching storm. 

I recently had an opportunity of looking at a very important 
scientific work, Grove’s Correlation of Physical Forces. He demon- 
strates that mechanical motive force, heat, light, electricity, 
magnetism and cuemicar arrinrry are all in effect simply modifica- 
tions of the same force, and mutually generate, replace, merge 
into each other, etc. With great skill he dismisses such odious 
metaphysical-physical phantasms as ‘latent heat’ (as good as 
‘invisible light’), electric ‘fluid’ and similar verbal pis aller* which 
come in handy as understudies in place of ideas. 

I hope to have good tidings of you soon. So much am [I taken 
up with thoughts of you that I am unable to compose myself 
sufficiently to read the important American news today. 

The whole family send their warmest regards. Kindly remember 
me to Jettchen, the doctor, Fritz? et cie. 

Your affectionate nephew 

K. M.