MARX TO JOSEPH WEYDEMEYER ” 

[London,] 20 February 1852 

Dear Weydemeyer, 

I can send you nothing this week for the simple reason that for 
a week or more I have been so beset by money troubles that I 
have not even been able to’ pursue my studies at the Library,” let 
alone write articles. 

However, I think that by Tuesday (the 24th) and Friday (the 
27th) I shall be able to send you Nos. 5 and 6 of my article,° which 
are the concluding ones. 

I received your letter, along with Cluss’ concluding remarks on 
18 February. You have been particularly unfortunate in two 
respects: 1. unemployment in New York; 2. the raging westerlies, 
which have driven vessels bound from London to America off 
course. For, with the exception of the early days, contributions 
have been sent you from England (by me, Engels, Freiligrath, 

a See this volume, p. 39. - » of the British Museum - © K. Marx, The Eighteenth 
Brumaire of Louis Bonaparte. 

Eccarius, etc.) as regularly as any newspaper could hope for. 
However, the people here have begun to flag because no news has 
arrived from America, albeit a multitude of ships. I did not think 
fit to inform anyone other than Engels and Lupus of the 
suspension of your paper.* It would only make people more 
dilatory. 

If, by the by, you wish to receive regular support from here, 
you will have to fulfil the following conditions: 

1. Write every week and give the date of the letters you have 
received from us. 

2. Keep us fully au courant with everything over there and 
regularly supplied with relevant documents, etc., newspaper 
cuttings, etc. 

You will realise, mon cher,” how difficult it is to contribute to a 
paper on the other side of the ocean without any knowledge of its 
readers, etc. But if you fulfil the above conditions I can guarantee 
you the necessary contributions. I am here at their backs, whip in 
hand, and shall have no difficulty in keeping their noses to the 
grindstone. From Germany, too, I have received promises on your 
behalf of contributions and collaboration. If I only knew that the 
paper would survive, I would have someone in Paris who is ready 
to send you a weekly contribution gratis. L shall write to the man,‘ 
who is one of my best and most intelligent friends. The worst of it 
is that no one likes to work pour le roi de Prusse,’ and daily reports 
lose all value if not published immediately on arrival. Since, then, 
you are unable to make any payment, it 1s all the more necessary 
to convince people that they are doing real party work and that 
their letters are not being pigeonholed. 

It seems to me that you are making a mistake in having your 
letters delivered instead of doing what every newspaper must do, 
that is, advise the Post Office that you will have them collected 
regularly on the arrival of a vessel. In this way misunderstandings 
and delays are more easily avoided. 

Apropos. Do not print Hirsch’s statement'* if you have not 
already done so. 

A mass of blackguards is leaving here for New York (amongst 
them tailor Lehmann and tailor Joseph Meyer). Some of them will 
approach you in my name. But don’t trust anyone who does not 
bring with him a few lines in my writing. The fellows will serve 

@ Die Revolution - » my dear fellow - © R. Reinhardt - 4 for the king of Prussia, i.e. 
for nothing 

well enough to answer questions about Willich, etc. Lehmann and 
Meyer are devotees of Jesus Willich. 

As for Dana, I think it was foolish of him to accept articles from 
Simon.” If my money-box allowed, I should immediately refuse to 
send him any further contributions. Let him publish attacks on 
myself and Engels but not by such an impertinent nincompoop. 
It’s sheer stupidity to permit Agitation and Emigration,” those 
twin fictions which exist only on newspaper pages, to be presented 
to the American public as historical realities by a vain fellow who 
has imposed upon Germany the Prussian Emperor,” the March 
Associations ” and the Imperial Regent, Vogt,” and now, with his 
bankrupt accomplices, would like to impose himself afresh upon 
the people, along with Parliament and a somewhat modified 
Imperial constitution. Rien de plus ridicule que ce gredin-la qui du 
haut des Alpes laisse tomber des paroles d’homme d’état.” | should have 
credited Dana with more tact. Ludwig Simon—von Trier! When 
will this fellow drop his patent of parliamentary nobility? 

Here in London, you know, all these fellows have completely 
drifted apart. The only thing that keeps them in any way together 
is the prospect of being redeemed by Gottfried Christ Kinkel’s 
money. On the other hand we have that idiot Ruge, together with 
Ronge and two or 3 other jackasses, who conceal their lazy still-life 
by calling it ‘agitation’, just as a stagnant swamp might be dubbed 
‘open sea’. 

Europe, of course, is now busying itself with other troubles than 
these. Ledru-Rollin himself has collapsed here like a punctured 
balloon since 2 December‘ and the arrival of new revolutionary 
elements from France. Mazzini is making ultra-reactionary 
speeches, one of which I shall shortly analyse for you. 

As regards Ernest Jones’ Notes to the People, in which you will 
find all the day-to-day history of the English proletariat, I shall 
send you it as soon as my financial circumstances permit. I have to 
pay 8 shillings every time I send a parcel to America. 

Give Cluss my warm regards. We are eagerly awaiting his letters. 
Why haven’t you sent us his statement 

I, together with my wife, Freiligrath nd wife,’ and Lupus, all 
send our heart-felt greetings to your wife, whom please assure of 

4 In particular L. Simon’s ‘Movements of the German Political Exiles’, New-York 
Daily Tribune, No. 3369, 4 February 1852. - b There’s nothing more ridiculous 
than this scoundrel who, from Alpine heights, lets fall these statesmanlike 
pronouncements. - © coup d’état in France on 2 December 1851 - 4 Ida 

our sincere regard. We hope that the new world citizen will make 
his appearance cheerfully in the New World. 

F H, 
arewe our 

K. Marx 

If it does not work out with your newspaper, could you not 
bring out my pamphlet,” sheet by sheet or, if possible, in sections 
as sent to your Otherwise it will take too long.