in Manchester  
London, 31 March 1857  

31 March 1857  
9, Grafton Terrace, Maitlandpark,  
Haverstockhill, London.  

Dear Engels,  

Received £5.  

When convenient, send me the Manchester Examiners. The explanations of the Bright party are now of interest to me. It was their defeat that first gave the election its historical point. Palmerston’s position now becomes dangerous for the first time, at a moment when he commands a majority in Parliament, while outside Parliament – for the first time since the Anti-Corn Law League – a serious anti-ministerial agitation will again arise. England is entering a serious crisis – the *Times* already hints at it with the cloud which it sees gathering – and when the move on the Continent begins again, John Bull will not maintain the genteelly indifferent attitude of 1848. Pam’s victory is the ultimate point of the events that began with June 1848. Among the more intelligent public in London the news from Manchester was received with a kind of consternation, commented upon as it was by Pam’s impudent address and speech. Viewed locally, Manchester – and on this there is but one opinion – has disgraced itself, and deeply. If *Punch* were not bought by Pam – one of its chief editors, Taylor, has been appointed to the Sanitary Department at £1,000 – Potter, Turner, and Garnett would certainly figure in it next Wednesday. Write me a few details about these fellows and their whereabouts.  

Mr Dronke has written to Freiligrath that he will ‘break with his Jew and set himself up as an independent agent’.  

Concerning Bangya, I have had notes sent to Urquhart – because of his connections with Constantinople and Circassia.  

Enclosed, a cutting from *Reynolds* about the editor of the *Morning Advertiser* – Mr Grant. Literally true.  

Also the letter from Dana. Send it back to me. In his enumeration of printed articles he mentions only the latest, and even of those he printed some only 5–6 weeks after their arrival in New York, when he saw that things were turning. His money proposal shows best that I was not mistaken in the gentleman’s intentions. His remark concerning the length of the articles suits me very well. I have all the less to supply. It is only striking that he now finds 2–3 columns for the most insipid London gossip for months past.  

In Prussia there is also a minor parliamentary crisis. ‘In money matters all cordiality ceases,’ seems to be proving true there again.  

In all probability the Swiss will agree to expel all the refugees.  

Salut  

Yours,  
KM  

Have you noted the swindles that burst last week, of the Australian Agricultural Company, the London and Eastern Bank, and the North of Europe Steam Company, where Mr Peto is on the board?