in London
42, Kings Road, Brighton
6 March 1877

Dear Mohr,

Many thanks for the long work concerning “critical history”. That is more than I need to do the fellow in completely on this ground as well.!!¹ In fact Lavrov is, in a certain sense, right that the fellow has so far been treated too decently.¹ Now that I am re-reading the “Course of National Economy* 7%)” now that I know the fellow and his manner, and no longer need fear that there is some trick behind the twaddle, and the whole stilted fadaise emerges undisguised, I do indeed find that a little more contempt is in place. Good Lavrov naturally has his own feelings in the matter, and in his проповѣды?² he need not take into account the crescendo that one of our sort must not lose sight of in such a protracted dressing-down. By the end of the “Philosophy”, however, he will no longer have cause to complain of mildness, and still less in the “Economy”.

Collet’s weighty misgivings apropos Gladstone were unavoidable. These are things that must not happen save by higher command. One ought to have kept silent until Gladstone was back in office, and then left it to Urquhart to issue a grave admonition through profound innuendos³ that remain incomprehensible even to the person concerned. The fight against secret diplomacy must itself be waged in secret-diplomatic fashion.

I shall work up the Plebeiana for Wilhelm.⁴ With this split in Italy, the gentlemen anarchist dictators are done for. From the little notes [also?] in this no. of the “Plebe” on the *spiriti ristretti ed anarchici – ed allo stesso tempo mostruosa contradizione, dittatoriali*⁵,⁶ it emerges that Bignami has got to know the peculiar character of these people exactly. Bakunin was still more skilful and patient than Herr Guillaume, who is in far too much of a hurry with world domination.

What you sent me was no new proof-sheet.⁵ I have as yet received none. It is a real pig’s mess with Wilhelm.

A week today we are coming back.⁵ Lizzy is remarkably restored, appetite almost normal, but the air here along the long, unbroken shore is priceless.

Best greetings.

Yours,
F.E.

¹ See present volume, p. 34
² sermons
³ innuendos
⁴ Wilhelm Liebknecht
⁵ illegible in the manuscript
⁶ restricted and anarchic and at the same time – monstrous contradiction – dictatorial minds

17°