Brussels, Saturday, 31 May 1845 

Dear Marie, 

To my regret 1 must today inform you that I shall be unable to 
be present at your wedding,’ the reason being the difficulties I 
have encountered over a passport. Last Wednesday I went to the 
Administration de la sûreté publique” and demanded a passport 
for Prussia. After some waiting and a lengthy discussion about my 
emigration and the fact that I could not obtain a passport from 
the Prussian envoy, | was finally informed that since I had only 
just arrived, I could not get a passport from him. If I had lived 
here a little longer, he—Mr Hody, the Directeur of the streté 
publique—would have been empowered to give me passports, but 
in the circumstances he could not. In any case, foreigners who 
settled here usually arrived with passports still valid for a year or 
six months, and hence his instructions were to give visas to newly 
arrived foreigners, but not to issue them with passports. Inciden- 
tally, if I had one or two connections, 1 would undoubtedly obtain 
a passport at the Foreign Affairs Ministry. I do indeed have such 
connections, namely in the person of a German doctor who had 
actually promised to obtain a passport for me should I run into 
difficulties. But this doctor was himself married only a fortnight 
ago and went to the Wallonian watering-places for his honeymoon. 

@ with Emil Blank on 3 June 1845 - » police headquarters 

He returned on Thursday and it was not till yesterday evening 
that I succeeded in seeing him; he was very willing to help, but he 
immediately told me that, since he was unable to go to the min- 
stry before this morning, I couldn’t possibly get my passport 
until the day after tomorrow—Monday—and hence must put off 
my trip until Monday evening or Tuesday morning. I told him 
that I couldn’t wait as long as that, but he again declared that it 
wouldn’t be possible to help me obtain it any sooner; anyhow, he 
said, he was willing to try again. Well, this morning he sent me a 
note saying he had indeed made inquiries in person and would be 
unable to obtain a passport for me before Monday, maybe not 
until Monday evening. I replied at once, telling him to spare 
himself further exertion, as in that case I should have to abandon 
my trip altogether. 

As you and the others will readily understand, I would only 
expose myself to unpleasantness, my other circumstances being 
what they are, were I to attempt to cross the border without a 
passport—which, indeed, Mr Hody advised me against, my exit 
permit being valid pour sortir de la Prusse, mais pas pour y rentrer,* so 
it would seem that J must remain here and celebrate your 
wedding on my own and in my thoughts—sorry though I am for 
it. Anyhow you may be sure that I shall spend the whole day 
thinking of you and Emil, and that my best wishes will accompany 
you in marriage and on your honeymoon, although I shall not 
have the pleasure of expressing them orally. What I wish you 
above all is that the love which has brought you together and has 
made your relationship as beautiful, humane and decent as any I 
have encountered, will accompany you throughout your lives, help 
you to surmount all adversity with ease and be the making of your 
happiness. I rejoice wholeheartedly over your marriage because I 
know that you cannot be anything but happy in your life together 
and that—after you have been joined together— neither of you will 
be disappointed in the other. You may be sure that, of the many 
good wishes that will be proffered you, none is more sincerely 
meant, none is more cordial nor warmer than mine! As you know, 
of all my brothers and sisters, I loved you the best and you were 
the one in whom I always had: most confidence—so you will 
believe what I say, without any need for solemn asseverations and 
unnecessary verbiage. Once again, I wish that your love may 
always remain constant, and there is much else I wish you 
besides—what, you will be able to guess. Be happy! 

a for leaving Prussia, but not for returning there - > Emil Blank 

Well, I hope I shall soon receive a letter from Mrs Blank, for I 
expect Mrs Blank to take just as much interest in me as did Miss 
Engels. At all events I hope that, after a happy wedding and a 
happy honeymoon, I shall see you both this summer at Ostend or 
in England, and till then, once again farewell! 

Warmest regards to everyone 
Your devoted 
Friedrich