London, 6 September 1855 
28 Dean Street, Soho 

My Dear Mrs Daniels, 

It is impossible to describe the grief I felt on hearing that dear, 
unforgettable Roland had passed away. Although the latest news 
reaching me through Steffen had been far from reassuring,* I did 

4 Putnam’s Monthly for August 1855, containing the first article in Engels’ series 
‘The Armies of Europe’, which is referred to here. - > See this volume, 
p. 546. - © chief editor - 4 Farewell. - © See this volume, pp. 544-45. 

not for all that ever abandon hope of your excellent husband’s 
recovery. His was a sensitive, finely-tuned and altogether noble 
nature—character, talents and physical appearance in rare har- 
mony. Seen amongst the others in Cologne, Daniels always seemed 
to me like the statue of a Greek god deposited by some freak of 
fate in the midst of a crowd of Hottentots. His premature decease 
is an irreparable loss not only to his family and friends but also to 
science, in which he gave promise of the finest achievements, and 
to the great, suffering mass of humanity, who possessed in him a 
loyal champion. 

I am sufficiently acquainted with your heroic nature to be 
convinced that imperishable grief will not prevent you from 
remaining the loyal guardian of the beloved pledges left you by 
Roland. In his sons you will compensate the world twice over for 
the loss of the father. 

The news of this new loss has revived in my wife such vivid 
memories of the death of our only little son* that her state of 
mind does not permit of her writing to you just now. She is 
weeping and lamenting like a child. 

Consolation I will not venture to offer you since I myself am 
and shall remain inconsolable for [the] loss of a friend who was 
more dear to me personally than any other. Grief such as this 
cannot be alleviated, but only shared. As soon as I get over my 
first stormy emotions, I shall send an obituary to the New-York 
Tribune for the many friends of the departed in America. It is to 
be hoped that circumstances will some day permit us to wreak 
upon those guilty of cutting short his career vengeance of a kind 
sterner than that of an obituary. 

You will need no assurance on my part that you can always 
count on me as a loyal and devoted friend. 

With my heartfelt sympathy, 
Yours 
K. Marx