[London,] 2 August 1851 
28 Dean Street, Soho 

Dear Weydemeyer, 

Engels has just sent me your letter, which I hasten to answer. I 
would, of course, have liked very much—if it was impossible to 
keep you here—at least to see and talk to you before you left. 

a disjointedly - > See this volume, pp. 409-16. - © Notes to the People 

But if you are really going to America you couldn’t have chosen 
a better moment, both as regards finding a source of livelihood 
there and being of service to our party. 

For it is almost as good as certain that you will obtain a position 
as editor with the New-Yorker Staatszeitung. It was previously 
offered to Lupus. Enclosed is a letter from him to Reichhelm, the 
co-proprietor of the paper. So much for the industrial aspect. But 
you have no time to lose. 

On the other hand, Mr Heinzen, and with him the worthy 
Ruge, sounds weekly trumpet blasts against the communists, 
especially myself, Engels, etc., in the New York Schnellpost. Our local 
democratic riff-raff have a pit over there where they deposit their 
guano which forces neither seed nor fruit but rather a luxuriant 
growth of weeds. Finally Heinzen is harrying the Staatszeitung, which 
is no match even for this opponent. 

Whatever the attitude of the Staatszeitung to American politics, 
you will have la voix libre* as regards European politics. Heinzen 
goes around posing as a great writer. The American press will be 
delighted by the arrival of someone who will rap this loud- 
mouthed poltroon over the knuckles. 

If you become editor, we shall give your department every 
support. Unfortunately that blackguard and jackass, Seiler, is the 
Staatszeitung’s London correspondent. In addition, the member of 
the European government,” Ruge, needs to have his mouth stopped. 

Your article against Christ‘ is good. I have no alterations to 
suggest but would simply remark, by way of parenthesis, that 
the workers in the manufacturing areas do indeed marry in order 
to coin money out of the children. It’s a sad fact but a true 
one. 

As you can imagine, my circumstances are very dismal. My wife 
will go under if things continue like this much longer. The 
constant worries, the slightest everyday struggle wears her out; 
and on top of that, there are the infamies of my opponents who 
have never yet so much as attempted to attack me as to the 
substance, who seek to avenge their impotence by casting 
suspicions on my civil character and by disseminating the most 
unspeakable infamies about me. Willich, Schapper, Ruge and 
countless other democratic rabble make this their business. No 

aa free say - > ie. the Central Committee of European Democracy - ¢ Probably 
Weydemeyer’s critical article on A. Christ’s Ueber den gegenwartigen Stand der Frage der 
Schutzzélle 

sooner does someone arrive from the Continent than he is 
collared and worked upon so that he in turn takes up the 
self-same handiwork. 

A few days ago the ‘famous’ referendary Schramm,’ on meeting 
an acquaintance in the street, at once whispered in his ear: 
Whatever the outcome of the revolution, everyone is agreed that 
Marx is perdu.” Rodbertus, who has the best prospects, will have 
him shot outright—and all the rest likewise. I, of course, would 
make a joke of the whole dirty business; not for one moment do I 
allow it to interfere with my work but, as you will understand, my 
wife, who is poorly and caught up from morning till night in the 
most disagreeable of domestic quandaries, and whose nervous 
system is impaired, is not revived by the exhalations from the 
pestiferous democratic cloaca daily administered to her by stupid 
tell-tales. The tactlessness of some individuals in this respect can 
often be colossal. 

By the by, there’s no question of parties here. The great men, 
despite their professed disparity of views, do nothing except 
mutually underwrite one another’s importance. Never has revolu- 
tion brought a hollower crew to the surface. 

When you reach New York, go and see A. Dana of the New-York 
Tribune and give him my and Freiligrath’s regards. He may be of 
use to you. As soon as you arrive, write to me at once, but still 
care of Engels, who is better able to afford the postage than any of 
us. At any rate I expect a line or two from you before you actually 
put to sea. When your wife‘ arrives, convey to her the warm 
regards of myself and my wife. 

If you are able to remain in New York, you will not be very far 
from Europe and, with the wholesale suppression of newspapers 
in Germany, it is only over there that we can conduct the struggle 
in the press. 

Your 
K. Marx 

P.S. I have just learnt that the great men, Ruge and clique, 
Kinkel and clique, Schapper, Willich and clique, and these great 
ones’ go-betweens, Fickler, Goegg and clique, have combined to 
form a spongey mass.*°° Remember the story of the peasant who 
sold a dozen bushels a time at below cost price. But, he said, it’s 

4 Rudolf Schramm - » lost - © Louise 

the volume that does it; and that’s what these weaklings also say: 
its the volume that will do it. The cement, by the by, which has 
kneaded this dough together, is hatred of the ‘Neue Rheinische 
Zeitung clique’, and in particular of myself. When there’s a dozen 
of them together, they’re proper fellows. 

If you don’t become master of the Arbeiterzeittung in New 
York—which would undoubtedly be best—if, that is, you are 
compelled to negotiate with the Staatszeitung, beware of your 
friend Kapp, who’s always in and out of the place. We have proof 
to hand that this individual—for what reason I know not—is one 
of the main intriguers against us. 

Adieu mon cher.