Littlehampton,*!? 18 September 1878 
Selborne Cottage 

Dear Moor, 

As usual I did not express myself clearly. Since I couldn’t expect 
you to go over daily and forward me my letters, I sent the people 
at home a few addressed envelopes so that they might forward me 
the letters every two or three days. What I had meant to ask you to 
do was to make sure, during the first few days, that the letter 
concerning money I was expecting wasn’t left lying around for 
a number of days, and that the general business of sending stuff 
became a regular routine; also to take an occasional look at the 
newspapers and other papers that had arrived (and were, 
according to my instructions, to remain there) in case they should 
include anything that called for attention. I hope we now 
understand one another. 

@ together - > Jean Longuet 

23* 

This morning’s Standard contains a good article full of 
well-merited contempt on the subject of the law and the debate.*”° 
I am sending it to Leipzig.*?? The debate is deplorable enough as 
far as the law-and-order men are concerned. Bismarck, totally 
incapable of refuting the facts adduced against him by Bebel, ae 
has recourse to the pitiful subterfuge of saying that he sympa- 
thised with the Social-Democrats until they began extolling the 
Commune—he, who himself patted the Commune on the back for 
copying Prussia’s municipal statutes! And then he reviles as a band 
of robbers a party represented in the Reichstag, and the call to 
order is rejected! 

I am sending you a Kélnische Zeitung’ First there is a demand 
for Russian laws for the Germans, and then the Petersburg 
correspondent says that since in Russia those same Russian laws have 
proved ineffective, the only remedy lies in a constitution, popular 
representation, freedom of the press, etc.! The stupid paper failed 
to notice this, as no doubt did our people too, alas. The last part of 
the piece from Moscow is also interesting. Mark the things and 
send them to Leipzig (Ramm—Hermann—FarberstraBe 12"); 
they might notice it after all and make use of it. 

Russia’s numerous and forceful moves in Turkey, Persia, 
Afghanistan, etc., would seem to be intended on the one hand To 
FISH IN TROUBLED WATERS, WHERE SOMETHING MAY BE EXPECTED TO TURN UP AT ANY 
MOMENT and, on the other, to deceive public opinion at home. But 
who knows what may yet come of it? Bismarck may soon be so 
placed that his only recourse will be to seek another war with 
France, thus sparking off a European war of East versus West, in 
the course of which no one is more likely to go under than he. At 
all events, the Turkish war has shown how rotten the whole of 
Europe is, and that the eruption is closer than we might have 
expected. No matter what happens, it will turn out to our 
advantage. 

I was delighted to hear that the little boy‘ is better, which means 
that with any luck the perpetual alarms are now a thing of the 
past. 

Here it has been raining incessantly since yesterday evening. 
This little place consists of two parts—the village and harbour on 
the River Arne, and the beach 500 paces to the south-east, some 
150 houses on a dune, where one might well imagine oneself in 
Holland. Sands as lovely and firm as at Ostend. 

a No. 249 of 7 September 1878-5 the address of the Vorwdarts editorial 
board - © Jean Longuet 

I may spend a couple of hours in London at the end of this 
week; iF so I shall, if possible, let you know. 

Your 
F. E.