{London,] 22 January 1851 

Dear Engels, 

You are taciturne comme la mort? Enclosed I send you 1) a 
statement by Oswald Dietz in the Basle National-Zeitung against 
Pfander and Bauer,‘ 2) a tattling article against us concocted by 
Mr A. Ruge in company with Struve and Willich.4 You must 
return the garbage to me within two days at the latest, telling me 
what action you think we should take against No. 2. If you would 
like to draft some sort of statement, send it along as well. 

C. Schramm is going to issue his own statement. 

What do you think of this coup de maitre by Atta Troll‘ and, 
entrenched behind him, that ‘outstanding, resolute man, Struve’, 

a Emil Blank - > silent as the grave - ¢ O. Diet. ‘An die deutschen Arbeiter-Verein’, 
Schweizerische National-Zeitung, No. 5, 7 January 1851 (on the alleged appropriation of 
Educational Society funds by Heinrich Bauer and Carl Pfander see this volume, pp. 
245-46). - 4 A. Ruge, ‘London, 13 January’, Bremer Tages-Chronik, No. 474, 17 
January 1851. - ¢ master stroke - ! Title character of Heine’s satirical poem. Here 
meaning Arnold Ruge. 

not to speak of the ‘valiant Willich’. C’est un peu fort’ I happened 
to light upon the paper at Bamberger’s. Who else would either 
read or know of the Bremer Tages-Chronik. Organ der Demokratie? 

Bauer and Pfander naturally won’t answer and silence would, 
indeed, seem to be the most advisable course for them just now. 

I have as yet had no news, either from Schabelitz, who wished to 
take over our Revue” or from Becker, who was going to see to the 
publication of my essays.*7 None of my approaches to Mr 
Schuberth have so far been of any avail. If Haupt can find a 
lawyer who will take over the case, he will bring an action against 
him.** 

What are Mary and Lizzy* doing? And above all you yourself? 
Harney was here one evening with Pieper, Eccarius, etc., and very 
gay, until his ‘dear spouse’*—‘half drew she him, half sank he 
in’°—-carried him off almost by force. 

Your 
K. M.