in Petersburg

[London] 22 July [1871]

Dear Friend,
You must forgive me if you receive a reply so late. Recently I have had such an excessive amount to do that I scarcely got to bed. For that reason I could not think of occupying myself with *Capital*. Next week, however, I shall begin and get the whole matter ready for you.

I had a parcel ready for Berlin, but unfortunately, through some oversight, it has not been sent off. It is still here. So please send me a new address for Berlin; I will then have the parcel dispatched at once.

The most alarming news about our mutual friend has arrived here; I hope, however, that it is false, or at any rate exaggerated.

It would be useful if you could find me a correspondent in Berlin who could serve as an intermediary for some of the commercial affairs I have to transact with Petersburg; for certain articles this detour might prove shorter than the direct route. The straight line is not in all cases the shortest, as mathematicians assume.

Yours very faithfully
A. Williams*