London, 9 January 1883 

Dear Moor, 

In great haste I am sending you the following enclosures: 
1. Lafargue, 2. Bebel, 3. Hepner,*** of which I should like to have 
2. and 3. back. 

So at last there has been a report on Jenny’s condition from which 
one can tell how matters really stand. In my opinion the case isn’t as 
bad as it looks; the poor child has allowed herself to grow unduly 
weak as a result of over-exertion and her distaste for medical treat- 
ment, but she will soon pick up again under Laura’s management. 
I at once sent Laura £ 15, the last five being intended to give Laura 
a somewhat freer hand when she visits Jenny and buys things for her. 
Until Jenny is able to run her house again, Johnny ought certainly 
to remain over here. 

Bebel’s information on German industry is interesting, though it 
strikes me that one ought to take it cum grano salis.» What are ex- 
panding are for the most part the luxury industries and possibly 
mechanical weaving —— though in the latter case export opportunities 
are restricted by the tariffs on yarn. Since the annexation of Alsace 

a 

with a grain of salt 

they have had more spindles than they need as also, since 1870, iron- 
works, so how can 7g industry as such expand to any great extent? 
Moreover the fact that beet sugar has made such an impression on 
him suggests a narrow view. The circumstance that the state pays for 
the profits of the sugar-manufacturing Junkers has already been 
debated in the Landtag. 

Hepner. What do you make of the little Jew’s proposal (obviously 
at the insistence of his associé* Jonas) to hold a pistol to our heads as 
regards a preface to the Manifesto? In my view, either one completely 
ignores insolent letters like these or at most refers him to the preface of 
the Leipzig edition’; if that isn’t good enough for him he ought to 
leave the Manifesto unprinted. 

If you write to Sorge about Hartmann‘ (supposing that you have 
not already done so) you might slip in a line or two about little 
Hepner. 

Time for the post —I had to go into town to see to the money and 
then get it off, have therefore been delayed. 

Your 
F. E.