MARX TO ENGELS” 
IN MANCHESTER 


[London,] 9 May 1865 


Dear Frep, 


You need not send anything back (except Schily’s letter*). Just 
keep the things safely. I enclose one Free Press (the Queer aRTICLE ON 
the ‘Reconstruction or Itary’ is from the pen of the Hic Priesr 
himself, from Urquhart), also two Nordsterns (one of them 
somewhat out of date). I’ve got a subscription to the latter, but no 
longer to the Social-Demokrat. The latest Nordstern will give you 
some idea of the situation on the Rhine.?” Incidentally, the total 
number of the faithful whom B. Becker still commands is barely 
1,000. 

Before I forget: there were several allusions to your pamphlet‘ 
in the debate in the Prussian Chamber. Gneist, for instance, said the 
Minister of War‘? would not persuade them, even if his statistics 
spoke with the tongue of ‘Engels. (Laughter.) (That is how the affair 
appeared in the Berliner Reform.*) 

As everywhere, the London workers, of course, also include a 
KNOT OF ASSES, FOOLS AND ROGUES, RALLYING round a scoundrel. The 
scoundrel in this case is ‘George Potter’, a rat oF A MAN, SUPPORTED by a 
venaL but witty Irishman by the name of Connolly, who is a 
dangerous srump-orator. Although the bourgeoisie hate the said 
Potter as chief srrixe-manacer, they do, nevertheless, support him 
against our people because they smell venaurry in him, whereas 
they know that our people are rrur men. This Potter perives His POWER 
particularly from the fact that he is presentiy the MaNnacer of The 
Bee-Hive, the official organ of the travers unions, although he uses it 
against the orricrat councu. of these unions which is in our hands.'* 
Since the paper is based on shares, the idea is now to distribute as 
many snares as possible (5su. PER sHARE) amongst our workers. For my 
part I have undertaken to collect the money for anout 30 suares. For 
this, I’m counting on you (sincLe HANDED or with friends) for £5, I 
write To Dronke for £1 and I will pay the rest myself. (Although 
my Function with the Centra. Councit costs me a ‘lot of money, 


4 See this volume, p. 150. - b D. Urquhart, ‘Construction of the “Kingdom of 
Italy”’, The Free Press, 3 May 1865. -°¢ F. Engels, The Prussian Military Question 
and the German Workers’ Party. - 4 von Roon - ¢ [Account of Gneist’s speech in the 
House of Deputies,] Berliner Reform, No. 69 (supplement), 22 March 1865. 


80. Marx to Engels. 9 May 1865 155 


compared with what I can afford.) The money must already be ar 
Hand this week, as the General Meeting of the sHarenotpers is next 
week. If we are only strong enough (and Odger, for instance, has 
guaranteed 50 snares) to elect the prrecrors, we shall have that 
rogue Potter (who is only the manacer) UNDER OUR THUMBS. This 
matter is of decisive importance for the whole movement.”” 

E. Jones was here, very charming socia.Ly sprakinc. But between 
ourselves, he is only trying to use our Association for electoral 
agitation. Of the 12 cards I sent him, he returned 11, he had not 
sold a single one, whereas poor Schily, for instance, paid for 24 for 
himself alone. I told him he should just put them back in his 
pocket again, I would dispose of them later, but I could not 
appear in front of the English workers and tell them that. By ann sy 
HE wit FIND out that if only for speculative reasons he should not 
have treated the business so lightly and ratuer contempristy. I will 
write to him and tell him to hand over the  ‘Avpressgs’* to you. 
You can give them to whomsoever you please. They are just dead 
weight with him. Incidentally, I don’t take kindly to the fact that 
he was here to wangle a job as Recorper out of Sir G. Grey either. 

Today I am to submit an ‘Appress To Presinent Jounson. Mr Le 
Lubez wants to return to the Councm as—Dertecate ror Deptrorp, 
the same fellow as resigned as Dezecats ror France,” But HIS ADMITTANCE 
(WE HAVE TO CONFIRM THE DELEGATES) WILL NOT RUN QUITE SO SMOOTHLY AS HE 
sEEMS To FANcy. I would be pleased if you could form even just a BRANCH 
or 6 men in Manchester, and could get yourself elected as their 
CorresponpENT FoR Lonpon. For THE corResPoNDING people are e0 ipso‘ 
MEMBERS OF THE CENTRAL CounciL, and have a seat and a vote on it, 
WHEN AT Lonpon. 

New srancurs have been formed in Lyon, Neufchateau (départe- 
ment des Vosges) and St Denis. The French srancues (apart from 
Paris) are not linked with Paris, in view of the existing laws, but 
directly with London. 

I’m hoping to put the finishing touches to my book“ by 1 
September (despite numerous interruptions). It’s going ahead well, 
although I am still not quite well. 


Your 
K. M. 
First published in Der Briefwechsel zwischen Printed according to the original 
F. Engels und K. Marx, Bd. 3, Stuttgart, Cad te 
1913 i pane Published in English in full for the 


first time 


a K. Marx, ‘Inaugural Address of the Working Men’s International Association’. - 
b See this volume, p. 140. - ¢ of themselves - ¢ Capital