[Ryde, 5 September 1892] 

Dear Baron, 

I forgot to reply to you about Bonnier the day before yesterday. °°? 
If you look at the reports on England and Germany over the signa- 
ture ‘B’ or Bernard in the Socialiste, it will enable you to judge to 
what extent you can make use of him. Bonnier is a sterling fellow, but 
his German studies have somewhat spoiled the Frenchman in him, 
something I have observed more than once in his fellow countrymen. 
He lives in a world of books and will find it difficult accurately to 
weigh the facts of the living movement one against the other. More- 
over he resides at Oxford, far removed from all the activity, besides 
which he has an unshakeable faith in Guesde. Guesde’s illusions and 
optimism are in many respects of great value within the movement it- 
self, in much the same way as are Liebknecht’s; neither is prone to de- 
spair. But these qualities are hardly suited to the reporting of current 
activities. However Bonnier, with his native intelligence, is bound 

gradually to gain in refinement — not that I have seen much of him 
of late. If the others on the daily *?* are finding more than enough to 
do, you really haven’t much alternative— provided that Bonnier, 
too, is not fully occupied in that quarter. 

Regards from Pumps and Percy. 

Your 
F.E. 
T return to London tomorrow.°?°