Dear Marx Manchester, 3 April 1854 

The crossing of the Danube is of a purely defensive nature. It is 
proof that the Russians are withdrawing from the greater part of 
Wallachia. They have had 7 infantry divisions in Wallachia, one in 

3 H. Douglas, A Treatise on Naval Gunnery, London, 1820. 

reserve at Ismail and, behind it, Cheodayev’s corps, making 3 
more divisions. Cheodayev can, at the very best, be at Jassy. The 
remaining 8 divisions, including cavalry, etc., etc., amount to less 
than 110,000 men. Hence, with the possibility of an Anglo-French 
landing in their rear, it behoves them to secure the most 
favourable position in which they will not be cut off, and with the 
minimum possible sacrifice of ground. Here they had only 2 
alternatives: Either a direct withdrawal to the Sereth, this and the 
Lower Danube being chosen as the line of defence (Fokshani, 
Galatz, Ismail) or, 2. a pasi to the Dobrudja, shifting the front to 
Kustendje, Hirsova, Oltenitza and Bucharest, with Trajan’s Wall, 
Danube and Argish as the first line of defence, Buseo as the 
second, and Sereth as the third. This, at any rate, is the best plan, 
especially since new ground would be gained on one wing to make 
up for that abandoned on the other, and thus the retreat would 
Jook like an advance, and military decorum would be preserved. 
Possession of the Dobrudja would shorten the Russian front and, 
if the worst came to the worst, would leave open the line of 
withdrawal to Chotin on the Dniester, even if there were landings 
at Akkerman or Odessa.” 

Things seem to be working out with The Daily News. I didn’t 
write until last week,’ after I had observed the English proprieties 
by obtaining a Rrererence from father Watts, who also writes for it 
(father Watts, py THE By, has given up his shop and is now MANAGING 
piRECTOR Of a Peopte’s Provivent Assurance Co, in which capacity he will 
shortly be setting himself up in your vicinity, 47 Charing Cross 
[Road]. He and all his officials are letting their beards grow and 
look like Wasserpolacken™). Today I’ve had a letter from the curr 
epiror, Lincoln, who seems altogether agreeable (I had offered to 
start off with articles on the Russian army, navy and fortifications), 
and he is eager for me to send him the articles.” So I don’t feel 
at all nervous. That the fellows are in a quandary as regards 
things military is evident from their acceptance of Schimmelpfen- 
nigian nonsense of a kind totally incomprehensible to anyone 
unacquainted with Builow’s books, and my racily written and 
unlaboured letter will have opened up for them prospects of quite 
a different order. Once they have got interested in my stuff (N.B. 
I asked for money straight away), I intend really to impress the 
jackasses. Tomorrow I shall send them something no one else can 
provide: plans of Hirsova, Matchin, Isaktsha and Tultsha. This 
business has really taken a load off my mind, for a source of cash 

a See this volume, pp. 423-26. 

was absolutely necessary. If all goes well,in the summer,when my old 
man comes over, I shall chuck up commerce and move to London; 
but then I shall at any rate be coming over some time before 
Whitsun to make definite arrangements with the chaps. 

Needless to say, Lupus had been out drinking with us. As usual, 
staggers off tight as a drum so that there’s no holding him, loses 
his way, finds himself in a low pub at the opposite end of the town 
from where he lives. Treats 6 maquereaux* and 2 whores who were 
at the bar, shows his shekels, exits followed by the maquereaux, and 
so on. That’s his account. However, there’s more to the matter than 
meets the eye; for instance, on coming to his senses he didn’t go 
home but went off with an Englishman, a total stranger, who put 
him up (not 200 paces from his lodgings) moyennant” one shilling. 
In short, il y a la des choses que M. Lupus veut cacher, sans doute 
quelque vieille fille’ 

The story of the Russians’ boulets asphyxiants* is nonsense. The 
French have something of the kind, but it doesn’t destroy ships, 
merely kills people. You might send me Hammer some time, 
_ particularly about the more recent times. About Urquhart one of 
these days. It’s bad luck about Pieper. As regards the money you 
can, of course, dispose of it as you please. J don’t give a damn 
whether my brother-in-law* gets it or not. 

Your 
F. E.