Marx to Collet Dobson Collet, [London,] 23 October 1856 (draft)

Draft of a letter from Karl Marx to Collet Dobson Collet, editor of The Free Press, [London,] 23 October 1856. The draft, unsigned and in another hand (according to the IISG inventory, that of Wilhelm Pieper), is kept at the IISG, Amsterdam (Karl Marx / Friedrich Engels Papers, inv. C 115-120, image 4); the date «23 Oct. 56», in a different hand, is written in the top margin. transcribed from the digital facsimile by the Escuela de marxismo, 2026 (double reading and collation with the image). Diplomatic transcription: spelling and punctuation of the manuscript; underlinings in italics; deletions as text; [?] after an uncertain reading, [ilegible] for what cannot be read. Additions between the lines are given in their place, with a note. Traducción al español

Dear Sir,

Having been rather busy absent from London¹ during the last weeks[?] month², and seeing that your paper professed to be wanting space, I have deferred the continuation of my articles until to day. In transmitting the inclosed new manuscript it occurs to me that, from the differentce³ in⁴ size between the old & new Free Press, it would be desirable to come to an new⁵ understanding as to what is to be the length of the column, and in what manner your paper it is to be measured. the terms on which my contributions to your paper are to take place.

In answer to your last letter I have to state that it is indifferent to me whether you re⁶print the pamphlets in large or small type, but as to the documents never before published I consider it would be spoiling the case by to⁷ printing them put th[ilegible] them[?] in in small type. Concerning your remarks as to the desired[?] alleged desirability of my own comments or[?] [ilegible] not taking the form of notes, you will see that this is being done only where really expedient, and that under the form of introductions to the different chapters they are occupy already the space of the text. Lastly with regard as⁸ to the suggestion of drawing parallelisms between the epoch I treat upon and the present time, [ilegible] it has been anticipated to a certain extent in the chapters al[ilegible] you published. To carry systematically [ilegible] trace⁹ these parallelisms more fully[?]¹⁰ too far is beyond would be altering my plan, which is rather to give new materials for in support of an¹¹ established [ilegible] [ilegible] opinion, than new opinions for an hackneyed material. for a new history, than old new¹² reflections on well-known materials. To satisfy the wants of his readers in that respect I hold to be rather the duty of the editor.