MARX TO HERMANN BECKER” 

{London,] 28 February [1851] 

Dear Becker, 

I trust you have received the Rh.Z? I cannot understand your 
silence. Had you sent me Willich’s letters for which I asked you,’ I 
would not have had to report the abominations related below. I 
must again insist on your sending these letters forthwith... The 

4 to call him to account - > Neue Rheinische Zeitung. Politisch-Gkonomische Revue - © See 
this volume, pp. 273, 282. 

following report is to be read out to all our friends, who must 
make it known throughout the whole of Germany. 

It concerns the banquet held in London on 24 February, at 
which two of our friends and party comrades* were publicly 
‘haynaued”” under the chairmanship of the bold Chevalier de 
Willich. To help you understand what follows, a few preliminary 
remarks: 

The French émigrés, like all the others, had split up into various 
factions. Thereupon they combined to found an association in 
Church Street.’ It was to be of a philanthropic nature, for the 
assistance of refugees. Politics were excluded. Thus all shades of 
French émigré opinion were provided with a neutral terrain. 
In this way, then, Ledru-Rollin and Louis Blanc, Montagnards 200 
and Cabetists, Blanquists, etc., happened to be here at the same 
time. 

24 February was approaching. As you know, when presented 
with such a chance of appearing important, the French prepare 
for it, discuss it, examine its every aspect as long in advance as 
they would do a woman’s impending lying-in. Accordingly, the 
Church Street association convened a general meeting in order to 
arrange the celebration of this ‘glorious’ day. L. Blanc and 
Ledru-Rollin were present. Little Blanc— NB he cannot improvise 
but writes his speeches and learns them by heart in front of a 
Jooking-glass—rose and made a cleverly couched, elaborate, 
jesuitical speech in which he sought to prove that this association, 
being of a philanthropic nature, could not stage a political banquet 
and hence could not celebrate the February Revolution. Ledru- 
Rollin replied. In the heat of replying, little Blanc blurted out that, 
since Ledru and Mazzini had not included him in the European Central 
Commitiee,** he would not partake of any banquet with them. He 
was told that it was not the European Central Committee which 
was giving the banquet, but the Church Street association, 
comprising a]] shades of French émigré opinion. 

The following day that association received a letter from 
L. Blanc in which he notified them that he intended to stage a 
rival monster banquet...” 

So L. Blanc secured Harney and with him part of his following, 
for his banquet. The English foundations had been laid. But the 

a Conrad Schramm and Wilhelm Pieper - © In the indictment the following is written 
over a passage omitted here: “The following describes how L. Blanc won over his 
friend Harney with the progressive faction of the Chartists for his banquet.’ 

continental background, which was also to have all the colours of a 
European central rainbow, was still missing. To that end Louis 
Blanc ran a knowledgeable eye over the caricature of Mazzini’s 
committee—the Willich-Schapper-Barthélemy-Vidil-Peter and Paul 
committee. 

Just a few words about the origins and nature of this committee 
and its various hangers-on from the respective associations. 

When Willich and Schapper, along with their association, were 
thrown out of the League,* they joined up with Vidil and 
Barthélemy ... and the dregs of the Polish, Hungarian and Italian 
émigrés, by which rabble they had themselves dubbed European 
Central Committee.... Schapper and Willich, who could reasonably 
hope that, from a distance, this dirty, tasteless and paltry piece 
of mosaic might be taken for a work of art, also had the par- 
ticular aim of showing the German communists that it was 
themselves, not we, who had the European émigrés behind 
them and that, whether Germany liked it or not, they were 
determined to take over her government at the earliest oppor- 
tunity.... 

in ones to conduct his intrigue against Church Street, L. Blanc 
was not above associating himself with this gang he so despised. 
They, of course, were delighted. At last they were to attain a 
position. Although these gentlemen wish to exclude all writers, they 
welcome with open arms any writer of repute who places himself 
at their disposal. Schapper and Willich saw their day of triumph 
approaching ... when the German communists would assuredly not 
be able to resist, and would repentantly return to seek shelter 
beneath their wings.... 

The banquet took place in Islington on 24 February. Two of 
our friends, Schramm and Pieper attended.... Addresses were read 
out. L. Blanc read an address from his delegates, Landolphe 
one from Deputy Greppo (no other was to be had from Paris), 
a Pole an address from a few fellow thinkers in Paris, 
and the great Willich, who presided, one from La Chaux-de- 
Fonds. They had been unable to get hold of any from Ger- 
many...” 

Now it is up to you to do everything in your power to brand 

a The Communist League -> In the indictment the following is written over a 
passage omitted here: ‘When, following this, the ill-treatment inflicted on these their 
friends, who both, according to the above, belonged to the League, has been 
described, the whole ends thus? 

153. Marx to Engels. 1 March 1851 ~ 8311 

these cowardly, calumnious, infamous assassins before the German 
proletariat, and wherever else this can be done. 

To that end it is essential that you send us Willich’s letters 
forthwith...