Letter from Friedrich Engels to Edward Aveling, London, [London, first half of February 1892]; undated draft; the date is that of the editors of the MEW (vol. 38, p. 275). Manuscript preserved at the IISG (Karl Marx / Friedrich Engels Papers, inv. K 39), 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; underlining rendered as italics; deletions as text ([ilegible] where they cannot be read); interlinear and marginal additions inserted where marked; [?] after an uncertain reading. Traducción al español
My dear Edward
It was a perfectly understood thing that I was to revise your translation in the MS. & that, having done so, I should give it the character of an authorized translation by writing a new[?] preface to it.
After the independent action taken by Messrs S. S. & Co indirect & without consultation with either of us, & in direct contravention to the above understanding, I am bound to reconsider my position.
A revision of proofsheets – volume in [ilegible] in pages – is quite a different thing from [ilegible]; a MS. Your translation being made with the knowledge that I would revise it, is necessarily but a rough draft; moreover, you, as translator, would feel bound to stick to the letter of the original, where I, as the author, might deviate more or less from it, & thus make the [ilegible] book read not as a translation but as an original work. To revise not the MS but paged the proofs in this spirit, would require imply, more or less, the upsetting of the paging which has been carried to the end of the book.
Now, as far as I can see at present, there are but two courses open to me:
Either I revise the proofs in full liberty, exactly as I would have revised your MS, regardless of the expense this may cause[?] occasion of which expense is to be borne of course, by Messrs S. S. & Co — In that case our original understanding holds good, the translation is authorized by me, & I write a preface. In that case we must have [ilegible] four more copies of proofs at least, & read revise afterwards.
Or, I am to respect the proofsheets as far as the paging is concerned, & merely to make verbal changes within the limits of each page. In that case I will do my best to make the translation as good as I can, but I [ilegible] must decline being in any way connected with it before the public, & reserve to me the right of publicly declining any responsibility for it if such should be imputed to me.
As a matter of course, the expense caused in either case would have to be borne by Messrs S. S. & Co who alone have brought it about.
And on all these points I must ask for their decision in writing before I stir in the matter.