Letter to Karl Marx, May 9, 1866

Author(s) Friedrich Engels
Written 9 May 1866


First published in Der Briefwechsel zwischen F. Engels und K. Marx, Bd. 3, Stuttgart, 1919
Printed according to the original
Published in English for the first time in Marx-Engels Collected Works, Volume 42


ENGELS TO MARX

IN LONDON

Manchester, 9 May 1866

Dear Moor,

I am becoming concerned at your silence, I almost fear your health is not what it should be. You have not got carbuncles again?

What is this strange business of Cohen the blind,[1] who cannot hit the tall Bismarck with five shots and gets himself arrested by him into the bargain. He could have done Bismarck no greater favour.[2]

IT STRIKES ME that the Prussians are 14 days behind the Austrians with their mobilisation and cannot attack before the end of this inst. If the Austrians take advantage of thisv they may win a big battle and be in Berlin before the Prussians have concentrated.

Your

F. E.

  1. ↑ Engels makes a pun here: the German word blind means without sight, blind; Blind—the name of Cohen's stepfather.
  2. ↑ On 7 May 1866, Ferdinand Cohen, a student and Karl Blind's stepson, made an unsuccessful attempt to assassinate Bismarck. He was arrested and committed suicide in prison.