MARX TO ENGELS” 

[London,] 23 May 1856 
28 Dean Street, Soho 

Dear Engels, 

The family went off yesterday.” I have been incapable of work 
this week, partly because of the rrouste in the house, partly 
because of a rheumaticky back such as I have never experienced 
before. 

Herewith Bazancourt—the ‘Napoleonic’ account of the Crimean 
business.© Might not something be made of it for Putnam’s?™ It’s 
urgent that I obtain the services of this firm since the money and 
-gear needed for the journey have compelled me to accept through 
Zitschke a sole bill for £30 on myself, payable in 3 months’ time. A 
man from Putnam’s has been to see Freiligrath, and they are 
willing to take articles. 

I have only read the excerpts from Bazancourt that were 
published in the French papers. To judge by them, it would 
appear to provide much amusing matter. The thing cannot, I 

a We shall see. - © See this volume, p. 33. - © Bazancourt, L’expédition de Crimée jusqu’ 
@ la prise de Sébastopol. 

think, be treated other than flippantly. If done, it should not be 
made too short, but solely with the idea of filling up space. 

Triibner, who looked like accepting my Swedish stuff two 
months ago but then gave no further sign of life, wrote yesterday 
and arranged an entrevue* on Tuesday to discuss the matter. That 
would provide 20 sheets of work.” 

I am in a serious DILEMMA as to whether or not I should now go on 
a trip. On the one hand I’ve got to slog away at making money. 
On the other the doctor? has told me—and I believe he’s 
right—that I should travel a bit and have a change of air, as my 
liver is again functioning irregularly. I am nor yer pecipep what I 
should do. It’s not as though staying here were especially 
economical, since I also have Pieper round my neck. But the main 
thing is my work. 

As to Bazancourt, let me know whether you need the first part as 
well. If nothing can be made of the thing it would be better not to 
buy it. 

I am incapable of writing today, but must nevertheless ask you 
to clear up a philological doubt. In Henry IV, Shakespeare used 
the word ‘hiren’ for ‘siren’ and, according to a note made by that 
pedant, Johnson,° the form ‘hiren’ also occurs in other early 
English writers.‘ The substitution of h for s is qurrzin order, but 
might there not be some connection between ‘hiren’ and ‘Hure’,* 
and hence also ‘siren’? Or with ‘hoeren’, auris/ etc.2 You can see 
TO WHICH LOw STATE OF spirit J am DEPRESSED today from the great interest 
I show in this matter. 

I have received some very curious information about Ruge’s 
tragedy, the Neue Welt, in which ‘the tragedy of love turns into a 
farce’. Shall tell you about it in my next. 

Herzen is going to Switzerland. I await your communications on 
Ireland. 

Salut. 
Your 
[QA: garble stripped 2026-06-23]