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Title: Engels to Edward R. Pease, [London,] 27 January 1886
Description: Draft: Engels declines to write an article on the future society; his party has no ready-made proposals.
Author: Friedrich Engels
Date: 1886-01-27
URL: https://marxismo.school/archivo/marx-engels/cartas/originales/1886-01-27%20Engels%20to%20Edward%20R.%20Pease
---


*Letter (draft) from Friedrich Engels to Edward R. Pease, [London,] 27 January 1886. Manuscript preserved at the IISG (Karl Marx / Friedrich Engels Papers, inv. K 1373), transcribed from the digital facsimile by the Escuela de marxismo, 2026 (two independent readings and collation with the image). Written in English. Diplomatic transcription: spelling, capitals and punctuation as in the manuscript; deletions as ~~text~~ where they can be read, otherwise ~~[ilegible]~~; interlinear additions inserted where marked, with a note; [?] after an uncertain reading; [ilegible] for an illegible word. [Spanish translation](https://marxismo.school/archivo/marx-engels/cartas/1886-01-27%20Engels%20a%20Edward%20R.%20Pease)*

27 Jan 86.

Dr Sir ~~I feel highly flattered~~[?] In answer to your kind note of yesterday I regret to say[^1] that my ~~engagements~~ time is so ~~much~~ entirely[^2] taken up, by urgent work on hand, for at least a year to come[^3] that I cannot ~~undertake any~~[?] possibly[^4] ~~Consideration~~ ~~undertake~~[?] ~~enter~~[?] ~~upon~~ undertake[^5] any fresh engagements of whatsoever, ~~kind~~.

~~This paramount[?] communication~~ Having said this much, I ~~this statement~~ need not enter upon other considerations which ~~would prevent me from~~ might stand in the way of my writing the article you desire. But I may state ~~this~~ at all events that the party to which I belong, has no fixed ~~[ilegible]~~ ready made proposals to submit. ~~Whatever[?] we are~~ ~~[ilegible] may be~~ ~~allowed to form~~ Our views[^6] as to the ~~difference~~[?] points of difference between a ~~the~~ future, non capitalistic Society & that of today, are strict conclusions from ~~[ilegible]~~ historical facts & developments, and of no value – theoretical or practical – unless presented in connection with these facts & developments. The economical aspect of these points of difference I have tried to establish & to[^7] explain in my ~~pamphlet~~ book Herrn E. D. Umwälzung der Wissenschaft 2nd ed p. 253 to 271; reprinted in my pamphlet Die Entwicklung des Socialism[?] &c[?] 3rd ed p. 28[?]–48. Shorter I cannot possibly do even this ~~merely~~[?] ~~economical~~ partial abstract, where neither political nor ~~any~~ non-economic social questions are touched even. To give you a résumé in 100[?] words is therefore a task utterly beyond my powers.

I am yours faithfully

[^1]: «to say» written above the line.

[^2]: «entirely» written above the line.

[^3]: «for at least a year to come» written above the line.

[^4]: «possibly» written above the line.

[^5]: «undertake» written above the line.

[^6]: «Our views» written above the line.

[^7]: «establish & to» written above the line.