St Petersburg. December 15th My dear Sir,

From the post stamp of my present letter you will see that I am in Russia notwithstanding your friendly remonstrances. But I am sure that, after having been acquainted with my reasons, even you would find them to be quite sufficient ones.—In Königsberg I was told by a letter of the business about what I was called out of England.—Though this business as you may easily imagine yourself, threatens neither to the peace of Europe, nor to the existence of our paternal government, but nevertheless it seemed to me to be a very sympathetic one and besides, as I have made already such a long journey, I decided to proceed further and so once more am I in cara patria.

The character of my business will compel me to leave Petersburg in some few days and to start for the country where I shall be detained perhaps about three or four months and so I cannot take advantage of Mrs. Marx’ kind invitation to your christmas dinner and I am also afraid that my severe little teacher will find my english knowledge to be rather diminished by spending my time for the different adventures of my own instead of quietly reading those of Mr. Mordount Meurton Mordaunt Mertoun, Gestalt aus Walter Scotts Roman „The Pirate“ (1822). .

I send you a bit of “La Philosophie Positive” containing a remark about “Das Kapital“ I was told here that de Roberty ’s Этюды, which we have been speaking about, was sent to me in London some days ago as well as Tschernyschewsky’s articles on the land question. If you will call yourself on my landlady or send somebody else with the note I include here, she will give you over those books.

The other day I told you that in “Архивъ Судебной Медицины и Гигiены” (a russian medical review) was printed an article on the condition of the working people in West Europe. The article was founded principally upon your book and have had the unfortune to excite the displeasure of the government. Now it is finally condemned and burnt and, as the review is partly an official one, so rédacteur en chef lost his place.

The second volume of Lassalle’s works Сочинения Фердинанда Лассаля / Sočinenija Ferdinanda Lassallja. T. 1.2. Санкт-Петербург 1870. in russian translation is also seized by the government and nobody knows whether it will be allowed for the selling or not. On the envelope of that book there was printed that in few months will appear “Das Kapital” Die erste russische Ausgabe des „Kapital“ erschien 1872.. I was told that even that innocent announce did not escape from the attention of the allseeing governmental agents: the Censeur en chef asked the publisher whether it is the work of the same Marx who is playing such an active part in the “International,” and, if that is the case, what does he mean with such an announce? However my publisher hopes that the affaire with “Das Kapital” can yet be settled to our mutual pleasure and that my labour will not be lost in vain.

Flerowsky says that he wrote already a special book on артели long ago and that he addressed himself with that book to many publishers, but everyone refuses to publish it. He promised to write down the principal parts of that book in a letter which will be short enough as to translate it in english.

A fortnight ago the rédacteurs of principal russian news-papers were called to censeur en chef and strongly invited not to speak anything against Prussia. One of them (Загуляевъ) communicated that order to the public in “Голосъ”. He was immediately arrested and sent in one of remote provinces. Even his wife does not know precisely where he is. Besides we have here the new arrests every day and, generally speaking, the general situation is such a pleasant one that I begin to share quite sincerely your and general Staff’s views on the necessity of the war with russian government in order to put end to such an impudent behaviour and to weaken from without this terrible power.

Nay, I must finish, and so au revoir:With my profound respect to you and to your family yours trulyL.

My compliments to Mr. and Mrs. Engels and to little Pums.