Letter (draft) from Friedrich Engels to Ernst Dronke in Liverpool, London, 29 November 1878. Manuscript preserved at the IISG (Karl Marx / Friedrich Engels Papers, inv. K 192 (lot K 397-404)), transcribed from the digital facsimile by the Escuela de marxismo, 2026 (double reading and collation with the image). Diplomatic transcription: spelling, capitals, abbreviations and punctuation as in the manuscript; underlining rendered as italics; deletions as text where legible, otherwise [ilegible]; interlinear and marginal additions inserted where marked, with a note; [?] after an uncertain reading. Traducción al español

L.[?] 29 Nov 78.

My dear Dronke

I hear from Mess. W. & M. that you informed them of your intention not to have the assignment of the Policy executed. I can only say that Moreover I1 have not had a word of reply or explanation from yourself. Under these circumstances I can only again repeat, that, in as2 the Policy belongs[?]3 to Mrs Dr. & that as that4 you had no right whatever to dispose of it, it is no security for me and It is therefore no security whatever for me unless she assigned it to me by her5 in the form prescribed by law. Unless this is done, I shall not pay any premium to keep it going in existence, and I have no means to compel you and of course I[?] (know how to qualify the transaction, & of course shall)6

Yours truly.

[On the back:] Nov 29/78 / To E. Dronke

  1. «Moreover I» written above the line or in the margin. ↩

  2. «as» written above the line or in the margin. ↩

  3. After «belongs», a heavy cross-shaped stroke: a call sign without visible counterpart, or a blotted letter. ↩

  4. «that» written above the line or in the margin. ↩

  5. «by her» written above the line or in the margin. ↩

  6. Written between the lines «me unless … prescribed» and «by law …», in brackets and underlined, without a visible call sign; it seems to continue the «I» at the end of the paragraph. The sentence is left unfinished in the draft. ↩