{London,] 25 February 1862 

Dear Engels, 

My prolonged silence is due, not to anything ‘intrinsic’, but to 
the sordid state of affairs which I didn’t want to bore and plague 
you with, 

As you know, on New Year’s Day, I was able to serrie only that 
part of my debts which couldn’t, or so it seemed, be put off any 
longer (e. g. my landlord, to whom I shall owe a whole year’s rent 
by the end of next month). Most of the money went on debts 
upon which bills had been drawn. 

The Vienna ‘Presse’, as was only to be expected in view of the 
present rotten state of affairs in Germany, has not turned out to 
be the milch-cow it should have been. I am supposed to receive £1 
per article. But since the fellows only print perhaps one article in 
four, and quite often none at all, damn-all comes of it except loss 
of time and annoyance at having to write on spec, whether or no 
the gracious editorial board condescends to accord the article its 
imprimatur. 

I had to give way in my lawsuit with Koller,* the main reason 
being that, as soon as the solicitor wanted a £30 advance since the 
case went to a superior cover, I was not, of course, able to produce 
that sum. I had to pay, the souicrror £5 for himself and for the 
counsel. he had retained, and also come to an arrangement with 
Koller whereby I am to pay him £18 by monthly instalments of 
£2; I paid him the first £2 on the last day of January, and have to 
pay the next £2 at the end of February, but what with, I don’t 
know. 

During the past 2 months the Presse has printed so bttle of my 
stuff that I have no balance there worth mentioning. 

What makes the situation even pieasanrer is that for nearly 2 
months now little Jenny has been undergoing medical treatment. 
The child has grown visibly thinner. Jenny is now already old 
enough to feel the full strain and also the stigma of our 
circumstances, and I think this is one of the main causes of her 

2 See this volume, pp. 327-28, 334 and 337. 

physical indisposition. (Apropos. Yesterday Allen prescribed wine 
for her, and I’d therefore be grateful if you could send down 
a few bottles.) For instance, unbeknown to us, she called on 
Mrs Young to see. whether she mightn’t go on the stage. 

Take ALL in att, leading such a dog’s life is hardly wort wuue. 

As regards the copies of Urquhart’s paper,* I haven’t yet been 
able to get hold of them. Write and let me know with which issue to 
begin, and Collet will do what is necessary. Herewith the chap’s 
denunciation of Bakunin,” whom I haven’t seen. He is living at 
Herzen’s place. 

Have you by any chance inquired whether Lassalle’s opus‘ did 
in fact go off to August Philips? 

Salut. 
Your 
K. M.