Manchester, 21 October 1858 

Dear Moor, 

For the past fortnight I’ve been very much PUT OUT OF THE way by 
sundry slings and arrows—a rumpus at my lodgings necessitating a 
move and all that entails and, for good measure, a mass of other 
tiresome happenings. I haven’t even found new Lopcincs yet and 
am hardly likely to be out of the Trousie before the end of next 
week. 

Much obliged for the stuff relating to Jones, Mazzini and Pyat, 
likewise the ‘enthusiastic general’.* The latter seems to have 
surrendered entirely to the vulgar German-American day-dream; 
habeat sibi, let him go hang. Quoad‘* Jones, I should say that 
Reynolds’s is a bit short on Facts and presupposes some degree of 
familiarity with preceding events. This turn things have finally 
taken is hardly surprising in view of the contemptible way 
Monsieur Jones has already long been behaving. But simply to 
throw oneself away like that! Duncombe did at least get his debts 
paid and a good position into the bargain. 

Pyat and Mazzini, even by comparison with formerly, are 
distinguishing themselves by a surprising poverty of intelligence. 

Prospects for Mr Rudolf Schramm seem exceedingly poor. Now 
as always, the corporal? is confiscating newspapers and, if the 
telegraphic despatches are to be believed, did not even swear an 
oath on the Constitution yesterday. At any rate, the joyous 
day-dream which the Prussian bourgeois have deluded each other 
into believing will very soon evaporate, but I agree with you when 
you say that this won’t be the end of the affair.*° However, I’m 
not yet clear as to what course it will take. I should say that the 
bourgeoisie has not yet got over 1848 and 1849 to such an extent 
as to summon up sufficient courage simultaneously to confront on 
the one hand the aristocracy and bureaucracy, and, on the other, 
proletarian unrest. However, it’s possible that, so long as nothing 
is going on in France, the proletarian movement will for a time 
seem too slight a threat to be very intimidating; but in that case its 

a August Willich - > for all I care - ¢ As for - 4 William, Prince of Prussia 

progress will have to be damned slow. If nothing happens in 
France—which, in view of the present state of the Crédit 
mobilier’s *” shares, is hardly to be expected—Prussia might, of 
course, see the formation of a movement similar to the one in 
Italy during the years 1846-48, with a proletarian background. But 
otherwise I’m afraid the bourgeoisie may come round again before 
it’s too late. 

The Russian affair is turning out very well.” There is unrest in 
the South now, too. Apropos. Could you obtain for me from 
Tchorzewsky, or whoever Herzen’s agent is now, a few of his more 
recent publications? After all, these ought to contain something, 
e.g. his Foroca u3zo Pocciu (Voices from Russia) and the Koaoxors 
(Bell). Some material might be found in them, though hardly very 
much—but certainly now and again in the correspondents’ 
reports, etc., etc. 

My sources for the Central Asiatic stuff were Brockhaus’ new 
volume Unsere Zeit* (partly copied from the Preupisches Wochen- 
blatt) and Petermann’s geographical Mittheilungen.? The material is 
all derived from Russian state papers. If you like I could write an 
article about the Russian treaty with China (what a slap in the 
face for England and France!) for Tuesday, or thereabouts,° Le. if 
not prevented by my exodus. Let me know, and also send your 
further comments on the connection you suspect exists between 
the Elgin treaty and Pam.“ Or perhaps you have already dealt with 
this yourself? 

India is now quite outside my LatiTupe. From the military point 
of view nothing at all remains to be said. So desultory has 
everything become that it’s not even possible to do a survey of one 
month’s events, Altogether, I’m in a quandary about subjects for 
articles to send you. 

What’s the position about the manuscript for Duncker‘? Nows 
your time. Come what may, there'll be a new ministry which will 
probably be rather more hesitant about making its début with the 
confiscation of a scientific work. I hope it has gone off. But let me 
know for sure, so that I can reassure Lupus too. Last Sunday he 
arrived at my place very much the worse for drink, but was safely 
escorted home. Since then his leg has been rather worse again; no 
doubt it took a knock. 

] 335 

 Unsere Zeit. Jahrbuch zum Conversations-Lexikon, Bd. 2.- > Mittheilungen aus, Justus 
Perthes’ Geographischer Anstalt.... - © F. Engels, ‘Russia’s Successes in the Far East’. - 
4 See this volume, p. 347. - ¢ K. Marx, A Contribution to the Critique of Political 
Economy. 

For the past four weeks, trade here has been going through a 
sticky period during which the spinners have had their profits cut 
by ‘/od per Ib as a result of a fall in yarn and a rise in cotton. 
However, they are still doing good business and, if cotton again 
comes down a bit, as is quite possible, it will take only a minimal 
increase in demand to restore the situation. Moreover, there are 
signs here and there of moves by the workers to obtain higher 
wages and, if business continues good, these will gather force. 

How are things going with your mater? Best regards to your 
wife and children. 

Your 
F. E.