Letter from Friedrich Engels to Florence Kelley-Wischnewetzky in New York, London, 3 December 1887. Written in English. Text from: F. A. Sorge (ed.), Briefe und Auszüge aus Briefen von Joh. Phil. Becker, Jos. Dietzgen, Friedrich Engels, Karl Marx u. A. an F. A. Sorge und Andere (Stuttgart, 1906), pp. 285-286. Sorge prints the letter abridged. The row of dashes is his; […] marks further paragraphs he leaves out. Spanish translation
London, Decbr. 3rd 1887.
Dear Mrs. Wischnewetzky.
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We shall send copies to the Socialistic press (except “Justice” which had one from America and said just two lines about it), to the “Athenaeum”, “Academy” and “Pall Mall Gazette”; “Weekly Dispatch” and “Reynolds”. The “Commonweal” (I sent a copy to Morris) has begun a series of extracts from the book, the first of which I mailed to you to day. Altogether the prospects are very good. Only we must not send the copies to the press until after Christmas, otherwise they would be wasted.
As to the pamphlet, as I told you, Reeves has pirated it and will of course sell his own lot first. I shall hand the thousand copies to Aveling to do the best he can — either sell at meetings or give to Reeves as he may want them; but I am afraid a good deal of them will have to be given away gratis in the long run at meetings.
Your translation of “Free Trade” shall have attention as soon as ever possible. I shall also write a preface, only I am sure it will not in any case be what you want. It is impossible for me to answer the probable arguments of American protectionists beforehand. I do not know that sort of literature and have no time to go into it. My reasoning in nine cases out of ten would miss the mark, and moreover whatever we may say, they will always find a way out, and have something to say that we cannot foresee. To enter into polemics with them directly, one must be in America. And I have always found that a good book makes its way and has its effects whatever the penny a liners of the day may say.
Yours faithfully
F. Engels.