London, 11 March 1872 

Dear Laura, 

I should like to compliment you on Paul’s articles in the 
Emancipacién, which have given us all great pleasure, sending as 
they do a breath of fresh air into the desert of abstract 
declamation that prevails amongst the Spaniards.* Given all the 
tribulations and journeyings which have been inflicted on you over 
the past eighteen months and which, needless to say, 1 have 
followed with interest and at times with anxiety, it must be very 
gratifying for you to know that Paul’s presence in Madrid, 
precisely at the decisive moment, has been of incalculable value 
both to us and to the whole Association. Had Bakunin & Co. won 
the day in Spain—and without Paul they would probably have 
done so—a split would have occurred and with it a public 
rumpus. But now this attempted rebellion has come to an 
ignominious end and we can proclaim a victoire sur toute la ligne. 
In those articles in the Emancipacién where, for the first time, the 
Spaniards were treated to some genuine learning, you yourself 
played an important part, indeed the really learned part, which 
means that I, as Secretary for Spain, owe you especial thanks. 

I see from the Naples Campana that Paul has also extended his 
activities in that direction. So much the better. Naples harbours 
the worst Bakuninists in the whole of Italy. Cafiero is a good chap, 
a born intermediary and, as such, naturally weak. If he doesn’t 
improve soon, I shall give him up too. In Italy the journalists, 
lawyers and doctors have thrust themselves so much to the fore 
that up till now we have been unable to get in direct touch with 
the workers. That is beginning to change and we are discovering 
that the workers, as everywhere else, are quite different from their 
spokesmen. It is ludicrous—-these people cry ‘we want complete 
autonomy, we don’t want leaders’ and at the same time, more than 

a This presumably refers to: [P. Lafargue,] ‘El apédlogo de San Simon’, ‘El 
reinado de la burguesia’, ‘Las panaceas de la burguesia’, ‘Organizacidn del trabajo’, 
La Emancipacién, Nos.29, 32-38; 1, 21, 28 January, 4, 11, 18, 25 February, 
3 March 1872. -> victory all along the line 

in any other country, they allow a handful of doctrinaire 
bourgeois to lead them by the nose. The Spaniards are much 
better in this respect, for on the whole they have progressed a 
good deal further than the aforesaid Italians. 

There have been great rejoicings at your home since the 
Longuet affair and if, at the time of your engagement, one or two 
people may have cracked bad jokes about castinc sheep's EYEs, you 
have now been fully avenged, for Jenny is doing her very best 
along similar lines. This business has, by the way, been of 
enormous benefit to her; she is happy and cheerful and also 
physically much better, while Longuet is a very kindly companion. 
Tussy is also very pleased about the affair and really gives the 
impression that she should NOT MIND To Follow suit. Day after 
tomorrow Longuet will give a guest performance at your house 
where he will cook sole a la normande, his national dish. We too 
have been invited and I shall be curious to see what my wife* 
makes of the taste. His last offering— boeuf a la mode—was No GREAT 
SUCCESS. 

The Fondevilles have ruined themselves utterly over here, 
morally speaking; they are out and out tricksters. 

My best thanks for that amusing Spanish poem. It has caused 
us a great deal of merriment. 

I’m glad that Schnappy” is improving and hope soon to hear 
that he is perfectly well again. The poor little chap has already 
had a great deal to contend with. 

So now good-bye, think kind thoughts of me and rest assured 
that, wherever you may go, my heartfelt interest will go with you. 
My wife, though still unknown to you, sends her best wishes. 

Ever your old 
General‘