Friedrich Engels to George Shipton in London, Bridlington Quay, 10 August 1881; draft. Manuscript preserved at the IISG (Karl Marx / Friedrich Engels Papers, inv. K 1507-1508), transcribed from the digital facsimile by the Escuela de marxismo, 2026 (double reading and collation with the image). Written in English. Diplomatic transcription: spelling, capitals and punctuation as in the manuscript; deletions as text where legible, otherwise [ilegible]; interlinear additions inserted where marked, with a note; [?] after an uncertain reading; [ilegible] for an illegible word. Traducción al español

Brl. Quay 10th Aug 1881.

Dr Mr Sh.

I return the proof sheet altered as you wish. The first passage you seem to me to have misunderstood & the second alteration1 is merely formal. Anyhow, I do not see what good such alterations can do if sent to me asked for2 on Tuesday, recd. here on Wednesday, to arrive again3 in London on Thursday when after4 the publication of the5 paper will have6 be already published.

But there is another thing. If such very mild & innocent things as these begin to appear to be you7 too strong to you, it must occur to me that this must be the case, &[?] in8 a far &[?] higher degree, with my own articles which are generally far stronger. If this be so, taking I must therefore take9 your remarks as a symptom, and consequently conclude that it will be better for both of us if I discontinue & sending your leading articles. It will be far better than going on until, upon some inevitable point, we come to an open rupture. Moreover my time will certainly not allow me to go on writing leaders regularly, and on this ground alone I had come to some similar resolution to be delayed[?] deferred, to be executed, as I then thought, after the Trades Union Congress. But the sooner I stop, the better, perhaps, will be10 your position before that Congress. I need not say that I continue to wish the L. S. every success.

There is another point. I consider you ought to have sent me before publication or proof11 the copy of the Article on the Max Hirsch Trades Unions in Germany, as I the only man on your staff who knew anything of the matter & could make the necessary notes to it. Anyhow it will be impossible for me to remain on the staff of a paper which without consulting me, lends itself to12 writing up, before these Trades Unions, comparable only to the[?] worst13 English ones which allow themselves to be led by men in the openly14 [ilegible] sold to or at least paid by the middle Class.

I need not add that otherwise I wish every success to the L. S. & if desired shall now & then contribute occasional information from the Continent. Yours truly F. E.

  1. «alteration» written above the line. ↩

  2. «asked for» written above the line. ↩

  3. «again» written above the line. ↩

  4. «after» written above the line. ↩

  5. «publication of the» written above the line. ↩

  6. «have» written above the line. ↩

  7. «you» written above the line. ↩

  8. «in» written above the line. ↩

  9. «I must therefore take» written above the line. ↩

  10. «perhaps» and «will be» are marked for transposition (“the better will be, perhaps, your position”). ↩

  11. «before publication or proof» written above the line. ↩

  12. «without consulting me, lends itself to» written above the line. ↩

  13. «worst» written above the line. ↩

  14. «openly» written above the line. ↩