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Title: Engels to James Knowles, [London,] 17 April 1883 (draft)
Description: Draft: Engels refuses to lend the editor of The Nineteenth Century his résumé of Capital and recalls the review's treatment of Marx's reply to George Howell.
Author: Friedrich Engels
Date: 1883-04-17
URL: https://marxismo.school/archivo/marx-engels/cartas/originales/1883-04-17%20Engels%20to%20James%20Knowles
---


*Friedrich Engels to James Knowles in London, [London,] 17 April 1883; draft. Manuscript preserved at the IISG (Karl Marx / Friedrich Engels Papers, inv. K 786-787), 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](https://marxismo.school/archivo/marx-engels/cartas/1883-04-17%20Engels%20a%20James%20Knowles)*

17/4/83

Dear Sir

There exists a manuscript ~~resumé~~ critical resumé of ~~the~~ Das Kapital, by me, among the papers of the late Dr Marx, but up to today we have been unable to find it amongst the mass of papers left by him.

However, even if found, I should hesitate to lend it to you at least[^a1] for the purpose you indicate. I am not aware ~~of any literature~~ the[?][^a2] that it is usual, in the literature of this or any other country, for one author to lend his manuscripts to another.

As to our experience of English review-writers it has not been very encouraging. With the exception of a few clergymen of the Church of England, they have invariably distorted our views & disfigured our actions. Their utter ignorance of our theory & practice has been equalled only by their presumption. The *XIX* C. I believe[^a3], in July 1878, ~~brought[?]~~ published an article of George Howell on the Internl. ~~full~~ brimfull of untruths & inaccuracies[^a4] ~~distortions~~. Marx sent you a reply but you refused to insert it.

I am afraid, if you want to acquaint yourself with Marx's views you will have to read the German, Russian or French edition of Das Kapital.

I know but one living Englishman capable of giving a correct account of the contents of Das Kapital. He is a barrister in Manchester. If you desire I shall be glad to ask him whether he is willing to undertake the task for you

Yours faithfully

Jas Knowles Esq The Hollies, Clapham Common S. W

[^a1]: «at least» written above the line.

[^a2]: «the[?]» written above the line.

[^a3]: «I believe» written above the line.

[^a4]: «inaccuracies» written above the line.