8 Southboro Terrace. Carlton GrovePeckham. S.E. Sept 7th 71My dear Engels

I received your letter of yesterdayNicht überlieferter Brief von Engels an J. P. McDonnell, geschrieben am 6.9.1871. and will attend the sub-committee meeting without fail on saturday evening at 7 o’clock. I deeply regretted being unable to be present on Tuesday evening but I did good work elsewhere. There are many little difficulties in my way—to wit— the want of copies of the rules, but these will all disappear and in a very short time London will have several strong and enthusiastic branches. I am now in communication with several parts of the country and in another week or so I expect to be able to report the establishment of a very powerful branch in Bradford where the Irish element is strong.

There are many slight but awkward difficulties in the commencement of such a work amongst a people, who know very little about the International or its objects but when these difficulties are surmounted, and it only requires little time and energy, the good work will go ahead at an astonishingly rapid pace.Independent of these questions which affect the outside world and in which I, of course, take a deep interest as an Internationalist, I feel that the establishment of the association in Ireland and the circulation of its principles, are matters of the greatest importance to the future of Ireland

Many things have happened recently in Ireland and indeed are now happening which give me, as an Irishman and a Republican, very deep pain. For all these reasons and many more besides, am I doubly anxious to establish my Republican organ “The People”. I have resolved to establish it and I am determined that nothing shall prevent me doing so. Amongst the Irish alone I can safely calculate upon a circulation of, at the very least, 10000 per week and from the manner in which it will be written I am sure it will find its way amongst the Republicans of all countries, resident in England. I have also a number of advs. guaranteed from various persons here and in Ireland, which, independent of the circulation, will almost pay for the paper and printing. The paper will be equal in ability to any in existence and of course, more advanced. Fox and Reed the type Founders, to whom I gave you and some other Gentlemen, as references, are willing to give me two years accomodation for the type, machine etc but require security. I offered to give them a Bill of sale by which their property, which as you know is not consummable, would be freely secured to them. They do not seem, however, inclined to do this. In the meantime I am in correspondence with another firm and may be to obtain more reasonable terms. I will be able to buy the paper out at very slight expense and once I get the type it will not take me a fortnight to bring out the first number. It is usual for the type Founders to grant credit but of course they wish to satisfy themselves about the character & prospect of the person to whom they give it. I purpose to have my printing works here but a cheap publishing office in the Strand. The vacillating policy of the Irishman is fast killing it and opening the way for a truly Republican organ. See the “Advertiser” of this day. There is an article in it about the expulsion of our colleague Cohn from Belgium and another in which it is stated that several members of the International are amongst the foreign workmen imported into England.

My wife joins me in very kind wishes to Mrs Engels and yourself

I am yours ever faithfullyJP McDonnell