London, | January 1885 

My dear Laura, 

In all haste a few lines. Moore and Jollymeyer are off to Tussy’s 
and so I have profited of the occasion to shake off a lot of business let- 
ters—a few moments remain before 5.30. 

I had paid for your Justice up to 31 December, but as I had no 
proper receipt, could not do much — besides every letter of mine to 
anybody at that office was followed by an application from them for 
an article of mine, so that I really could not write to them even on 
business. However Edward says he pays to the Modern Press and so 
I have sent the money today for both you and myself for 6 months’ 
Justice and To-Day and hope you will get it. What we can get of back 
numbers you shall also have, but there is not much in it worth your 
notice, the leaning towards the Possibilists is of quite recent date and 
not at all pronounced, except last No. [with] a letter from Adolphe 
Smith. Now however it’s sure to bloom out. 

Last night we were at Pumps’, she is uncommonly well but over- 
does it a little —the baby all right. 

I am sorry the crisis in the Social Democratic Federation* could 
not be retarded a little longer; Hyndman would have got deeper into 
the mud, and the personal element would have been thrown more 
into the background. However it could not be helped. The reason 
why the majority, instead of following up their victory, resigned, and 
starts a new organisation was this chiefly, as Morris said to me: 

* See this volume, p. 245. 

that the old organisation was not worth having. The London branches 
are about 300 strong in all and those they hope mostly to get, and as 
to the provinces, it’s all bosh and bogus. 

Well we’ll see what they will make. There is this to be said in their 
favour: that three more unpractical men for a political organisation 
than Aveling, Bax and Morris are not to be found in all England. But 
they are sincere. 

Again Happy New Year to both of you and to the poor little ones* 
at Argenteuil when you see them, from Nim and myself. 

Your 
F.E.