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Title: Engels to J. H. Johnson, Son & Ellis, [London, 15 November 1889]
Description: Draft: Engels refuses to act as an informer about remarks made on board the City of New York on its circulating pumps.
Author: Friedrich Engels
Date: 1889-11-15
URL: https://marxismo.school/archivo/marx-engels/cartas/originales/1889-11-15%20Engels%20to%20J.%20H.%20Johnson%2C%20Son%20%26%20Ellis
---


*Letter (draft, undated and unsigned) from Friedrich Engels to the firm J. H. Johnson, Son & Ellis, [London, 15 November 1889]; the date is that of the editors of the MEW. Written on the back of the firm's letter of 7 November 1889. Manuscript preserved at the IISG (Karl Marx / Friedrich Engels Papers, inv. K 598), 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/1889-11-15%20Engels%20a%20J.%20H.%20Johnson%2C%20Son%20%26%20Ellis)*

Dear Sirs

I have received & considered your letter of the 7 inst.

It strikes me as rather peculiar that you expect me to treat your enquiries as "confidential", but never offer to extend the same treatment to my reply. Of course I cannot undertake such onesided engagements.

If I understand you rightly, I am to report to you and eventually name the author of,[^1] any reports[^2] ~~expressions~~ I may have heard on board, from passengers, ~~or~~ officers, or sailors, ~~[ilegible] as far as they may have been disparaging[?]~~ ~~to the off~~[?] as far as they may have been disrespectful towards the circulating Pumps of the *C. of N York*[?]. Such communications, if any, ~~were certainly~~[?] could only be[^3] made to me in the ~~confidence~~ expectation[^4] that I would treat them after the manner of gentlemen, & not bring their authors into difficulties even supposed they had used an unguarded word or two. To act otherwise, would in my opinion be to turn[?] common informer, ~~[ilegible]~~ unless I misinterpret what seems to me[?] the clear meaning of your proposal, that is what it amounts to, & ~~a strange~~[?] in that case[^5] it is of a *naiveté* equalled only by its refreshing coolness.

Anyhow, to set your minds at rest, I will tell you that I don't recollect that anybody in my presence, cast the slightest slur upon the immaculate circulating pumps which you have the honour to[^6] represent, & that I neither know nor care who made them.

I will[?] not condescend to ask you to treat this letter as confidential. A perusal of this correspondence by a Continental or American lawyer or man of business might lead to some valuable hints as to the manner of conducting similar inquiries.

[^1]: «and eventually name the author of,» written above the line.

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

[^3]: «could only be» written above the line.

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

[^5]: «in that case» written above the line.

[^6]: «have the honour to» written above the line.