(Manchester, about 6 July 1851] 

Dear Marx, 

After trailing around here for a week with my old man, I have 
happily sent him on his way again and today am at last able 
to send you the enclosed Post Office Order for 5 pounds. On 
the whole I can declare myself satisfied with the results 
of my encounter with the old man. He will need me here for 
three years at least, and I have entered into no long-term obli- 
gations, not even for 3 years, nor was I asked for any, either 
with regard to my writing, or to my staying here in case of a 
revolution. 

This last would appear to be far from his mind, so secure do 
these people now feel! On the other hand, I stipulated at the very 
start what my expense and entertainment allowance was to 
be—approx. £200 a year, which was agreed without over-much 
difficulty. With such a salary, all should be well, and if there are 
no ructions before the next balance sheet and if business prospers 
here, he’ll have quite a different bill to foot—even this year Pll 
exceed the two hundred pounds by far. Moreover, he has 
acquainted me with every aspect of his business, both here and 
over there and, since business has been very good and he is now 
more than twice as wealthy as he was in 1837, it goes without 
saying that I shan’t be needlessly scrupulous. 

Besides, the old man is artful enough, too. His plan, which, 
however, can only be executed very gradually and laboriously and, 
indeed, is unlikely to go through on account of the trouble with 
the Ermens, is that Peter Ermen should be moved to Liverpool, as 
he himself wishes, and that I should be left solely responsible for 
the office here—G. Ermen would then look after the mill. Thus I 
would be completely tied down. I, of course, feigned modesty, 
claiming that this was beyond my capabilities. Had my old man 
stayed here a few days longer, however, we’d have been at each 
other’s throats; good fortune seems to upset the chap; he gets 

above himself, reverts to his old schoolmasterly habits and becomes 
provocative. What’s more, he’s so stupid and tactless that, on the last 
day of his visit, for example, he sought to take advantage of the 
presence of one of the Ermens, before whom he thought I would 
keep my mouth shut and behave myself, to indulge himself at my 
expense by intoning a dithyramb in praise of Prussia’s institutions. A 
word or two and a furious look were, of course, enough to bring him 
back to heel, but also just enough to place us suddenly on a less 
cordial footing— just at the moment of parting—and I can be quite 
sure that, one way or another, he will seek to avenge himself for this 
cusck. Nous allons voir So long as the affair has no immediate, 
practical repercussions, i.e. on my financial situation, a dispassionate 
business relationship is obviously preferable to any kind of emotional 
humbug. 

Ceci entre nous” 

The Kélner Zeitung hasn’t been seen here since the beginning of 
July, perhaps because the subscription has been allowed to lapse, 
so I don’t know whether anything further has happened. If you 
have any news, do pass it on to me. I shall at long last be able to 
start working properly again, now that the interruptions caused by 
the Exhibition‘ are more or less over and the Athenaeum 
catalogue“ is finally complete. It is also my intention to move out 
into the country soon, so that I shall be completely undisturbed. 
Since I shan’t see my old man within the year, I can arrange 
things to suit myself and use the expense allowance largely for 
other purposes. 

Give my regards to your wife and write soon, 

Your 
F. E.