AT LE PERREUX 

London, 11 February 1889 

My dear Laura, 

Well this Egalité anyhow is quite a relief after the dear dull deadly 
Cri du Peuple (ennuyeux*). The last few numbers of that defunct paper 
were really crushing. Poor Vaillant who can write a very good article 
when a critical point has been reached, but who is the last man in the 
world to spin out yarns by the yard day after day—you actually saw him 
perspire over his daily task, and it was a desponding sight. The involu- 
tions, evolutions and circumvolutions of Longuet in his attempts to set 
himself right (and at the same time wrong) with his Radical ex-friends 
are at least amusing, and artistically done.**? Paul’s [article on] night- 
work is really good; though he might have tapé un peu plus dur> on 
Boulanger. Today I had no Egalité—perhaps the snow has delayed it. We 
are six inches deep in it here. 

I read your admonition yesterday to Tussy and she pleads guilty. 
How far she will mind is beyond my cognizance. 

Nim was rather out of sorts last week, some sort of derangement of 
the bowels, but is all right now. 

Of Capital, Il, vol. I finished section IV yesterday—about 1/3 of the 
whole cubic foot of ms. 

In the Dispatch I send you please note A. Smith on page 2°—full of 
lies as usual—but it shows what the Possibilists are after. That the 
Germans are going to their congress is a barefaced lie, and that the 
Danes, Dutch etc. are, is probably another. Bax told Tussy that 
Hyndman had sounded him as to what the Germans intended doing in 
this respect, and Bax asked him: are you then the representative of the 
Possibilists in London? to which Hyndman said he was and in that 
capacity wanted the information. Whereupon Bax said: then you better 
write me a letter which I can submit to Engels and Bernstein. There the 
matter rests at present. But you see how busy they are. 

* boring — > hit a bit harder - © [Ad. Smith], ‘The International Workmen’s 
Congress of 1889” 

Is Paul going to the Hague 28th inst. (Conference)? Bebel and 
Liebknecht are going, from here perhaps Bernstein, | am pressing him to 
go. 
As to the cash, herewith cheque £20—which I hope will pacify M. 
Vautour. 

Ever yours 
ESE,