Letter to Friedrich Engels, November 6, 1853

Author(s) Karl Marx
Written 6 November 1853


First published in Der Briefwechsel zwischen F. Engels und K. Marx, Bd. 1, Stuttgart, 1913
Published in English for the first time in Marx-Engels Collected Works, Volume 39


MARX TO ENGELS

IN MANCHESTER

[London,] 6 November [1853] 28 Dean Street, Soho

Dear Engels,

Herewith the great Karl Heinzen's invective against myself and communism in his Herold des Westens.

Also a letter from Cluss. From it you will see that Willich's fiery rocket[1] is arriving by the next post. The worst of it is that the fellows will be peddling their lampoon throughout the whole of Germany while my pamphlet[2] reposes quietly in Manchester and London—and that in Heinzen they once more possess a vociferous sounding-board, whereas a few months ago the only organ at Willich's disposal was the Criminal-Zeitung. When the trash arrives I shall let you have it immediately, so that you can write and tell me what you think we ought to do.

You will see from Cluss' letter how things stand with the Reform.[3] Get the 'old man'[4] and Dronke to write for it. They have plenty of WASTE TIME. Whether it would be advisable for us two to contribute direct is a moot point.

Weerth's letter horriblement insipid, despite all his striving after wit.

Your

K. M.

  1. ↑ A. Willich, 'Doctor Karl Marx und seine "Enthüllungen"', Belletristisches Journal und New-Yorker Criminal-Zeitung, Nos. 33 and 34, 28 October and 4 November 1853.
  2. ↑ K. Marx, Revelations Concerning the Communist Trial in Cologne.
  3. ↑ In October 1853 Weydemeyer became editor-in-chief of Die Reform. As Cluss wrote to Marx on 23-24 October 1853, Weydemeyer was compelled 'to write almost the whole newspaper himself'. In view of this Cluss requested Marx to get his associates to contribute to the newspaper.
  4. ↑ Wilhelm Wolff