Eastbourne, 19 August 1883 
4 Cavendish Place 

My dear Laura, 

At last out of London.? As soon as I saw my way clear, I sent 
Percy (last Wednesday’) over here to look out for apartments. He 
did his business well, and found excellent accommodation, not with- 
out difficulty. Two doors from the Parade, facing the Pier, fine rooms, 
no sun more than is wanted, good sea-view, good cooking, the only 
thing we are sorry for is that it could not be arranged in time for you 
to go with us. On Friday we arrived here, Pumps, babies and girl, 
Nim, Jollymeier (who felt a little out of sorts again but has picked up 
here at once and will soon leave us) and myself. First-class Scotch 
mist on arrival, fine rain off and on all night, very encouraging! But 
next day splendid, so that we could take our walks under the trees 
and show Nim a little of the place. To-day, Sunday, fine morning but 

2 15 August 

becoming foggy, well we must take our chance, but anyhow so far the 
place looks quite different to what it did in the rainy weather when 
last here.°? There has been an immense deal of building, the lodging 
part of the town has about doubled in size, all the fields towards 
Beachy Head and a good deal of the slope are built over. Pilsener 
Beer is flourishing and better even than in London. Nim and Pumps 
find things cheaper and better here than at home. 

Emily Rosher’s little avorton* died yesterday, best thing it could do. 

I wrote to Deville at once announcing arrival of his ms.” At the 
same time or a little after I got also Sam Moore’s translation — so 
I shall have plenty to do here, besides working off my colossal arrears 
of correspondence. 

The place is very full, but the style of the people seems to be more 
‘free and easy’ than formerly. Even on Sunday morning the chimney- 
pot hat plays but a very poor part, and ‘athletic’ costumes run about 
pretty free. 

Just now the whole party throng in again, awfully thirsty, Jolly- 
meier has to open the Pilsener, and you conceive that it is no use 
struggling against the difficulties crowding upon me and stopping not 
only rational but even irrational correspondence. The second bottle 
has just been opened, the little girl is crawling about my knees, and so 
I give it up in despair. The whole colony send their kindest regards to 
you and Paul whose half-term we shall celebrate the day after tomor- 
row ° in an extra draft of Pilsener. 

Nim wishes you, literally, ‘to have a good look-out about her for- 
tune, as she expects it soon to come in’.# 

And so, dear Laura, 

Yours most affectionately, 
F. Engels