[London,] 24 November 1851 

Dear Frederick, 

You must understand that, if I have not written to you before, it 
is because my household is all at sixes and sevens. 

You will remember that in his last letter Pieper wrote that the 
contract for my anti-Proudhon was about to be concluded.* From 
his letter, enclosed herewith, you will see that there is no further 
mention of this manuscript. This is typical of the way in which I 
have been kept on tenterhooks by our dear henchmen these six 
months past. On the other hand, Ebner has written to say that 

fi 

a K. Marx, The Poverty of Philosophy—German translation planned but not then 
published. 

Léwenthal is willing to try out one volume but didn’t mention 
whether I am to start with the ‘history of economy’.* If so, it 
would mean upsetting my whole scheme. Ebner further said that 
Léwenthal could only pay ‘a little’. This I am prepared to accept, 
provided he publishes what I want published first. But if he forces 
me to ruin my whole scheme, he will have to pay me as though 
I were directly commissioned by him. However, I shall for the 
time being let Ebner do as he thinks fit. He has informed me 
that he won’t conclude anything without my consent. Qu’en 
penses-tu?? 

J am glad that our people in Cologne‘ are at last to appear 
before the assizes and indeed, or so I was assured yesterday by 
Schiller, the Düsseldorf publisher, will do so this very December 
when there are to be extraordinary assizes. 

Apropos, don’t forget to let me have the New York Schnellpost 
back by return. Bamberger is pressing me, and it’s the only way of 
extracting from him the subsequent numbers which are said to 
contain all manner of curious things. 

I know that you yourself are now feeling the pinch and that my 
sudden descent, my razzia, on Manchester °° has made things even 
tighter for you, at least so far as this month is concerned. 
Nevertheless, I must ask you whether, in an emergency, you could 
lay your hands on another £2. For before leaving London I 
borrowed £2 and at the same time stated in writing that ’'d repay 
it before December. At all events I would ask you to write by 
return to let me know whether or not this is possible. 

Eccarius’ brother‘ has arrived here. He and all the other 
Straubingers arrested in Hamburg have been set free and given 
their marching orders. That Haupt originally had no treacherous 
intentions is apparent from the following: Burgers’ letter to him 
fell into the hands of his old man, who taxed him with it and 
proposed to hand it over to the police. This he prevented, tore the 
thing up and later took the pieces to Eccarius, etc., first to 
reassemble and read them, and then to burn them in their 
presence. This fact is important. It is pressure from his family that 
has ruined the unfortunate fellow. 

A few days ago at the library I read Mr Proudhon’s lucubrations 
on Gratuité du crédit against Bastiat. In terms of charlatanism, 
poltroonery, bluster and ineffectuality it exceeds anything this 
man has done before. Exempli gratia, the French believe that on 

a See this volume, p. 476. -> What do you think? - © the Communist League 
members arrested and under investigation - 4 Johann Friedrich Eccarius - € For 
example 

average they are paying 5-6 per cent interest. They are paying 160 
per cent. Comment donc?* Well, like this. Interest on mortgage, 
unsecured, state, etc., debts amounts to 1,600 millions. Now in 
France there is only 1 thousand million of capital in existence, i.e. 
gold and silver. Hence, q.e.d. A further example: When the 
Banque de France was set up, its capital amounted to 90 millions. 
At that time it was legally empowered to take 5 per cent on this 
sum. It is now operating (deposits, etc., included) on a capital of 
450-460 millions, of which */, belong not to it, but to the pusuc. If 
the bank, therefore, (90:450=1:5) takes only | per cent instead of 
5, it will be making a legitimate profit. And because the Banque de 
France could, in an emergency (2), content itself (i.e. the 
stockholders) with 1 per cent, the interest rate for France can 
therefore be reduced to | per cent. And 1 per cent, c’est la presque 
gratuité du crédit. 

And you should see how the fellow flaunts his dialectique 
hégelienne vis-a-vis Bastiat. 

I have been through your critique again here.‘ It’s a pity qu’il n’y 
a pas moyen of getting it printed. If my own twaddle were added 
to it, we could bring it out under both our names, provided this 
didn’t upset your firm in any way. 

As you know, Kossuth left on the 20th, but what you don’t know 
is that he was accompanied by Lola Montez and _ caballero 
Gohringer. 

Schramm,’ with an officious obstinacy wholly sans pareil is 
endeavouring to attach himself to me again. Il n’y parviendra pas.” 

How goes it with K. Schnapper’s' ‘tippling jaunts’?”” 

Your 
K.M.