{London,] 8 August 1851 
28 Dean Street, Soho 

Dear Engels, 

You'll excuse me for not having written sooner, and at the same 
time acknowledging receipt of the £5. So great was the pressure 
FROM without this week that I didn’t get round to writing. For the 
time being I’ve saved myself from being thrown out of the house 
by signing a sit on the Lanpiorp. 

I enclose herewith a copy of the Schnellpost in which you'll be 
able to see how infamously inane are the doings and chatterings of 
that bunch of old women, Ruge & Co. As soon as you’ve read the 
muck, sent it back. About the letter from which the boorish 
Heinzen cites extracts—and which in any case, originates from 
Fickler—a word of explanation: for some 2-3 weeks the jackas- 
ses—the émigrés—have been holding meetings in order to ‘settle 
their differences’, constitute themselves a round ‘dozen’ and 
mutually ‘set each other up’ as the great men of the future. Today 
they held their definitive sitting. I shall be hearing the result and 

shall inform you of it." But already the seed of dissension has 
grown so prolific that Mr Sigel has sent me a message through 
Schabelitz, who is here for the Exhibition,” saying he would call on 
me. 

The New-York Tribune has invited me and Freiligrath to work as 
paid collaborators.**' It’s the most widely disseminated journal 
in North America. If you could possibly let me have an article in 
English on conditions in Germany by Friday morning (15 August), 
that would make a splendid beginning. 

As to Schramm, we know that he corresponds regularly with his 
brother.© He wrote and told Bamberger not to give us his address. 
Fresh reports come in daily of his infamous doings here. 

Red Wolff has once again become an ‘Irishman’.“ 

Now for the Idée générale de la Révolution au XIX siécle par P. J. 
Proudhon. The first time 1 wrote to you about this book,° I had 
read no more than extracts from it—often misquoted, to boot. 
Now I can send you the oxederév.' First of all, the book contains 
well-written attacks on Rousseau, Robespierre, the Montagne,” 
etc. The force of the true sequence, to use the words of the 
immortal Ruge, is generated as follows: 

. Etude It was reaction that first brought about the develop- 
aon of the revolution. 

I. Etude. Y a-t-il raison suffisante de la Révolution au XIX siecle?" 

The revolution of 1789 overthrew the ancien régime But it 
omitted to create a new society or to create society anew. It was 
concerned only with politique’ instead of with économie politique At 
present ‘anarchie des forces économiques’ * prevails, hence ‘tendance de 
la société & la misére!' This manifests itself in the division of labour, 
machinery, competition, the credit system. Increase in pauperism 
and crime. Again, the State (état) becomes ever greater, endowed 
with al] the attributes of absolutism, acquires ever more indepen- 
dence and power. Increase in the national debt. The State sides 
with wealth against poverty. Corruption. The State subjugates 
society. There is a need for the new revolution. The task of the 
revolution consists a changer, a redresser la mauvaise tendance de ta 
société.” Society itself must not be touched. In its case there can be 
no question of reconstitution arbitraire.” 

« See this volume, pp. 436-38. - > the Great Exhibition of 1851 - ¢ Conrad and 
Rudolf Schramm - 4 See this volume, p. 383. - € ibid., p. 399. - f skeleton - & First 
Essay. - % Second Essay. Is there sufficient reason for revolution in the nineteenth 
century? - i politics - i political economy - * anarchy of economic forces -' the 
tendency of society towards poverty - ™ in changing, in redressing the evil tendency 
of society - ? arbitrary reconstruction 

15-bS-#S 

II. Etude. Du Principe d’Asseciation.’ 

Association is a dogma, but not a force économique. Association is 
in no way organic or productive, as are the division of labour, 
commerce, exchange, etc. Association should not be confused with 
force collective. 

La force collective est un acte impersonnel, l'association un engagement 
volontaire. L’association est de sa nature stérile, nuisible méme, car eile est une 
entrave a la liberté du travailleur.> 

The force that has been ascribed to the contrat de société° belongs 
solely to the division of labour, to exchange, to the force collective. 
When an association is founded for the purpose of carrying out 
great works, these must be ascribed to its means rather than to the 
principe of association. A man submits to an association only if it 
offers him une indemnité suffisante’ Only to the associé faible or 
paresseux is the association productive dutilité’ It is solidarité, 
responsabilité commune vis-a-vis third parties. As a rule an 
association is only feasible dans des conditions spéciales, dépendantes de 
ses moyens.” 

L’association, formée en vue du lien de famille et de la loi du dévouement, et en 
dehors de toute considération économique extérieure—l’association pour elle 
méme, est un acte de pure réligion, un lien surnaturel, sans valeur positive, un 
mythe.} 

Association should not be confused with the 

rapports nouveaux que se propose de développer la réciprocité entre les 
producteurs et les consommateurs. L’association met de niveau Jes contractants, 
subordonne leur liberté au devoir social, les dépersonnalise.i 

« Third Essay. On the Principle of Association. - » Collective force is an impersonal act, 
association is voluntary commitment. Association is by its nature sterile, even 
harmful, since it impedes the freedom of the worker. - © social contract - 
¢ adequate compensation - © the associate who is weak or lazy - f production 
association of any utility - § solidarity, joint responsibility - 4 in special conditions, 
depending on the means employed -* Association established with a view to the 
family tie and the law of dedication, and apart from any external economic 
consideration —association for its own sake, is purely an act of religion, a supernatural 
bond, devoid of positive value, a myth. - i new relations which are intended to evolve 
from reciprocity between producers and consumers. Association puts the contracting 
parties on an equal footing, subordinates their freedom to social duty, depersonalises 
them. 

198. Marx to Engels. 8 August 185] 411 

IV. Etude. Du Principe d’Autorité.’ 

The idée gouvernemeniale naquit des mceurs de famille et de l'espérance 
domestique. The démocratie is the dernier terme of évolution gouvernementale.> 

The idea of government is in opposition to that of contract. The 
true revolutionary motto is: Plus de Gouvernement!“ The autorité 

absolue is soon compelled to negate itself and to circumscribe itself 
with lois and institutions. The laws enacted are as innumerable as 
the interests which they outwardly determine. They have an 
ominous tendency to multiply. The law is a fetter forced on me 
from without. Constitutional monarchy. A contradiction in, terms. 
Suffrage universel. The intuition divinatoire de la multitude’ is 
nonsense. Qu’ai-je besoin de mandataires, pas plus que de représen- 
tants! Votes, even though unanimous, decide nothing. According 
to suffrage universel, Bonaparte would be the right man, etc. La 
démocratie pure ou le gouvernement direct"—figments in the minds of 
Rittinghausen, Considérant, Ledru-Rollin— aboutit a impossible et a 
Vabsurde.’ In being carried to extremes this idea of the State is 
revealed for the nonsense it is. 

V. Etude. Liquidation sociale. 

1. Banque nationale. The liquidation of the Bank of France is 
decreed. It is mot declared a national bank, but rather an 
‘établissement d’utilité publique’) Interest is reduced to '/2 or '/s per 
cent. 

2. The national debt. The capitaux particuliers,” having been 
deprived of the industrie de Uescompte,' flows into the Bourse, the 
State no longer pays more than “to or "4 per cent, and thus 
interest ceases to be of interest. Instead of interest, the State pays 
annuities, i.e. it repays in yearly quotas the capital it has been 
loaned. Or in other words, a decree to the effect that the interest 
on the debt paid by the State be deemed annuities and deducted 
from the principal. 

3. Dettes hypothécaires. Obligations simples. 

‘Les intéréts te toutes créances, hypothécaires, chirographaires, actions de 
commandite, sont fixés 4 !/4 or !/9%. Les remboursements ne pourront étre exigés 

a Fourth Essay. On the Principle of Authority. - > The idea of government was born of 
family custom and domestic experience. The final stage of governmental evolution is 
democracy. - © No more government! - 4 absolute authority - ¢ laws - § Universal 
suffrage. The prophetic intuition of the masses - § What need have I of mandatories, 
any more than of representatives! - Pure democracy or direct government - ' leads 
to impossibility and absurdity - i establishment of public utility - * private capital - 
' discount industry 

15* 

que par annuités. L’annuité, pour toutes Jes sommes au-dessous de 2000frs. sera de 
10%; pour les sommes au-dessus de 2000frs., 5%. Pour faciliter le remboursement 
des créances et suppléer 4 la fonction des anciens préteurs, une division des 
bureaux de la banque nationale d’escompte deviendra Banque fonciére: le 
maximum de ses avances sera, par année, de 500 millions.’4 [op. cit., p. 213.] 

4. Propriété immobiliére: Batiments. 

Decree: ‘Tout payement fait titre de loyer sera porté en a compte de la propriété, 
celle-ci estimée au vingtuple du prix de location. Tout acquittement de terme 
vaudra au locataire part proportionelle et indivise dans la maison par lui habitée, et 
dans la totalité des constructions exploitées a loyer, et servant a la demeure des 
citoyens. La propriété ainsi remboursée passera a fur et mesure au droit de 
l'administration communale qui, par le fait du remboursement, prendra hypothe- 
que et privilége de premier ordre, au nom de la masse des locataires, et leur 
garantira 4 tous, a perpétuité, le domicile, au prix de revient du batiment. Les 
communes pourront traiter de gré a gré avec les propriétaires, pour la liquidation 
et le remboursement immédiat des propriétés louées. Dans ce cas, et afin de faire 
jouir la génération présente de la réduction des prix de loyer, les dites communes 
pourront opérer immédiatement une diminution sur le loyer des maisons pour 
lesquelles elles auront traité, de maniére que l’amortissement en soit opéré 
seulement en trente ans. Pour les réparations, l'agencement et l’entretien des 
édifices, comme pour les constructions nouvelles, les communes traiteront avec les 
Compagnies maconnes ou associations d’ouvriers en batiment, d’aprés les principes 
et les regles du nouveau contrat social. Les propriétaires, occupant seuls leurs 
propres maisons, en conserveront la propriété aussi longtemps qu’ils le jugeront 
utile a leurs intéréts.”> [op. cit., pp. 221-22.) 

* 3. Morigage Debis. Simple Bonds, ‘Interest on all debts, mortgages, simple contract 
debts, joint-stock shares, is fixed at 1/, or '/p per cent. Repayment claims can be 
met only by annual instalments. The annual instalment for all sums below 2,000 fr. 
will be 10 per cent, for sums above 2,000 fr. 5 per cent. In order to facilitate the 
repayment and replace the function of the former money-lenders a section of the 
offices of the National Discount Bank will become a mortgage bank, the maximum 
of its advances will be 500 million per annum.’ - > 4. Real estate: Buildings. Decree: 
‘Every payment made in respect of rent shall be entered to the account of the property 
reckoned as twenty times the rent. With every instalment of rent the tenant will 
acquire a proportional and joint share in the house he occupies and in the totality of 
all buildings let for rent and serving as dwellings for the citizens. Property thus paid 
for will pass by degrees into the hands of the communal administration, which by the 
fact of the payment will take over the mortgages and prerogatives in the name of the 
mass of tenants, and will guarantee their domicile to all of them in perpetuity at the 
cost price of the building. The communes will be able to negotiate separate 
agreements with the owners for the immediate liquidation and repayment of the 
leased properties. [n this case, and in order that the present generations shall enjoy 
reduced rents, the said communes will be able immediately to reduce the rent of 
houses for which they have concluded agreements, in such a way that amortisation be 
completed only in thirty years. For repairs, fittings and upkeep of the buildings, as in 
the case of new constructions, the communes will negotiate with the companies of 
masons or associations of building workers according to the principles and rules of the 
new social contract. The owners, sole occupiers of their own houses, will retain the 
property as long as they judge this advantageous to their interests.’ 

5. Propriété fonciere. 

‘Tout payement de redevance pour l’exploitation d’un immeuble acquerra au 
fermier une part de propriété dans l'immeuble, et lui vaudra hypothéque. La 
propriété, intégralement’ remboursée, relévera immédiotement de la commune, 
laquelle succédera a lancien propriétaire et partagera avec le fermier la 
nue-propriété et le produit net. Les communes pourront traiter de gré a gré avec 
les propriétaires qui le désireront, pour le rachat des rentes et le remboursement 
immédiat des propriétés. Dans ce cas il sera pourvu, a la diligence des communes, 4 
Vinstallation des cultivateurs ct a la délimitation des possessions, en ayant soin de 
compenser autant que possible Pétendue superficiaire avec la qualité du fonds, et 
de proportionner la redevance au produit. Aussit6t que la propriété fonciére aura 
été intégralement remboursée, toutes les communes de la République devront 
s'entendre pour égaliser entre elles les différences de qualité des terrains, ainsi que 
les accidents de Ja culture. La part de redevance a laquelle elles ont droits sur les 
fractions de leurs territoires respectifs, servira a cette compensation et assuratice 
générale. A partir de la méme époque, Jes anciens propriétaires qui, faisant valoir 
par eux-mémes leurs propriétés, auront conservé leur titre, seront assimilés aux 
nouveaux, soumis a la méme redevance et investis des mémes droits, de manitére 
que le hasard des localités et des successions ne favorise personne, ct que les 
conditions de culture soient pour tous égales. l'impôt foncier sera aboli. La police 
agricole est dévolue aux conseils municipaux. Jop. cit., p. 228.) 

VI. Etude. Organisation des forces economiques. 

}. Crédit. The above-mentioned banque nationale, together with 
its branches. Gradual withdrawal of gold and_ silver from 
circulation. Substitution of paper. Quant au crédit personnel, c’est 
dans les compagnies ouvriéres et les sociétés agricoles et industrielles qu'il 
doit trouver son exercise.” 

a 5. Landed property. ‘Every payment of rent for the use of a piece of real estate will 
make the farmer part-proprietor of it and will count as a mortgage payment by 
him. When the property has been entirely paid for it will be immediately taken 
over by the commune, which will take the place of the former owner and will share 
with the farmer the ownership and the net product. The communes will be able to 
negotiate separate agreements with the owners who desire it for the redemption of 
the rents and the immediate repayment of the properties. In that case at the 
request of the communes steps shail be taken to instal the cultivators, and to 
delimit their properties, taking care that as far as possible the size of the area shall 
make up for the quality of the land, and that the rent shall be proportional to che 
product. As soon as the property has been entirely paid for, all the communes of 
the Republic will have to reach agreement among themselves to equalise the 
differences in the quality of the strips of land, and also the contingencies of 
farming. The part of the rent due to them from the plots in their particular area 
will be used for this compensation and general insurance. Dating from the same 
period the old owners who worked themselves on their properties, wil] retain their 
ude, and will be treated in the same way as the new owners, will have to pay the 
same rent and will be granted the same rights in such a way that no one ic 
favoured by the chance of location and inheritance and that the conditions et 
cultivation are equal for all. The land tax will be abolished. The functions of the 
rura} police will devolve on the municipal councils. - > As for personal credit, it should 
be operated in the workers’ companies and the agricultural and industrial societies. 

2. Propriété. See ‘Propriété fonciére’ cited above. Under the 
above conditions it is possible 

sans la moindre inquiétude, permettre au propriétaire de vendre, transmettre, 
aliéner, faire circuler 4 volonté la propriété ... Avec les facilités du remboursement 
par annuités, la valeur de l’immeuble peut étre indéfiniment partagée, échangée, 
subir toutes les mutations imaginables, sans que l’immeuble soit entamé jamais. Le 
travail agricole repousse la forme sociétaire.4 

3. Division du travail, forces collectives, machines. Compagnies 
ouvriéres. 

Toute industrie, exploitation ou entreprise qui par sa nature exige l’emploi 
combiné d’un grand nombre d’ouvriers de spécialités différentes, est destinée a 
devenir le foyer Uune société ou compagnie de travailleurs. Mais la ou le produit 
peut s’obtenir sans un concours de facultés spéciales, par l'action d’un individu ou 
d'une famille, il n’y a pas lieu 2 l’association.> 

Hence no associations in small workshops, among artisans, 
shoemakers, tailors, etc., marchands, etc. Association in big industry. 
Here, then, compagnies ouvrières. 

Tout individu employé dans lassociation a un droit indivisé dans la propriété de 
la compagnie; il a Je droit d’en remplir successivement toutes les fonctions, son 
éducation, son instruction et son apprentissage, doivent étre dirigés de telle sorte, 
qu’en tui faisant supporter sa part des corvées répugnantes et pénibles, ils hui 
fassent parcourir une série de travaux et de connaissances, et lui assurent, 4 
l'époque de la maturité, une aptitude encyclopédique et une revenue suffisant; les 
fonctions sont électives et les règlements soumis a l’'adoption des associés; le salaire 
est proportionné a la nature de la fonction, 4 importance du talent, 4 Pétendue de 
la responsabilité; tout associé participe aux bénéfices comme aux charges de la 
compagnie, dans la proportion de ses services; chacun est libre de quitter 4 volonté 
l'association, de faire régler son compte et liquider ses droits, et réciproquement la 
compagnie maitresse de s’adjoindre toujours de nouveaux membres @... 

a without the slightest misgiving, to permit the owner to sell, transfer, alienate or 
otherwise dispose of his property as he pleases... Given the facility of repayment by 
annual instalments, the value of a piece of real estate can be indefinitely divided, 
exchanged, and undergo any conceivable change, without the real estate being in the 
least affected. Agricultural labour rejects associatory forms. - > 3. Division of labour, 
collective forces, machinery. Companies of workers. Every industry, enterprise or 
undertaking which by its nature requires the combined employment of a large 
number of workers with different skills is bound to become the basis for an association 
or company of workers. But where a product may be obtained without a combination 
of special skills, through the activity of an individual or family, there is no need for 
association. - © shopkeepers - 4 Every person working in the association possesses an 
indivisible right in the property of the company; he has the right to perform 
successively all duties. His education, training and apprenticeship ought therefore to 
be conducted in such a way that, while he is made to take his share of disagreeable and 
arduous tasks, he will acquire experience in various sorts of work and fields of 

This is the solution to the deux problémes: celui de la force collective, 
et celur de la division du travail...* In the transitional period these 
workshops will be managed by the manufacturers, etc. 

4. Constitution de la valeur: organisation du bon marché.” To 
combat cherté de la marchandise‘ and the arbitraire du prix.’ The 
juste prix représente avec exactitude: a) le montant des frais de 
production, d’aprés la moyenne officielle des libres producteurs; b) le 
salaire du commergant, ou Vindemnité de l'avantage dont le vendeur se 
prive en se dessaisissant de la chose To induce the merchant so to 
do, he must be given a guarantee. This may be 

de plusieures maniéres: soit que Jes consommateurs qui veulent jouir du juste 
prix, et qui sont en méme temps producteurs, s’obligent a leur tour envers le 
marchand a lui livrer, 4 des conditions égales, leurs propres produits, comme cela 
se pratique entre les différentes associations ouvriéres parisiennes; soit que les dits 
consommateurs se contentent d’assurer au débitant une prime ou bien encore une 
vente assez considérable pour Jui assurer une revenue. 

E.g., the State 

au nom des intéréts que provisoirement il représente, les départements et 
communes, au nom de leurs habitants respectifs, voulant assurer a tous le juste 
prix et la bonne qualité des produits et services, offrent de garantir aux 
entrepreneurs qui offriront les conditions les plus avantageuses, soit un intérét 
pour les capitaux et le matériel engagé dans leurs entreprises, soit un traitement 
fixe, soit, s'il y a lieu, une masse suffisante de commandes. Les soumissionnaires 
sobligeront, en retour, a fournir les produits et services pour lesquels ils 
s'engagent, 4 toute réquisition des consommateurs. Toute latitude réservée, du 
reste, 4 la concurrence. Ils devront indiquer les éléments de leurs prix, le mode des 

knowledge, so that when he reaches mature age he will have a wide range of 
qualifications and a sufficient income. Posts are subject to election and the rules are 
adopted by the members of the association. The size of the recompense depends on 
the nature of the work, the degree of the proficiency, and the amount of 
responsibility. Every member of the association shares both in the profits and in the 
expenses of the company in proportion to his services. Everyone is free to resign from 
the association whenever he wishes, and therefore to settle his accounts and 
renounce his rights; conversely the company is entitled to recruit new members at any 
time. 

« two problems: that of collective force, and that of the division of labour - > The 
Determination of Value; the Establishment of a Cheap Market. - ° the high price of 
goods - 4 arbitrariness of prices - ¢ The fair price accurately reflects: a) a total 
production cost according to the official average for free producers, b) the 
merchant's salary or the compensation for the advantages which the seller forgoes 
by parting with the article. - of several kinds: either the consumers, who wish to 
have the benefit of a fair price and who are at the same time producers themselves, 
undertake in their turn to supply the merchant with their own products on equal 
terms, as is done by the various workers’ associations in Paris; or else the said 
consumers confine themselves to guaranteeing the dealer either a premium, or a sale 
large enough to guarantee him an income. 

livraisons, la durée de leurs engagements, leurs moyens d’exécution. Les 
soumissions déposées, sous cachet, dans les délais prescrits, seront ensuite ouvertes 
et publiées, 8 jours, 15 jours, | mois, 3 mois, selon importance des traités, avant 
Vadjudication. A Il’expiration de chaque engagement, il sera procédé a de nouvelles 
enchères.? 

5. Commerce extérieur.” As soon as the interest falls, it is necessary to 
abaisser les tarifs and, if it be depressed or standing between '/, and 
'/2 per cent, the Customs must be abolished. 

VII. Etude. Dissolution du gouvernement dans _ l'organisme 
économique. 

La société sans Vautorité. Elimination des cultes, Justice, administra- 
tion, police, Instruction publique, Guerre, Marine etc, the whole with 
appropriate Surnerian stock phrases. 

Write and tell me in detail what you think of this formula. Salut. 

Your 
K. Marx