Draft of a letter from Friedrich Engels to Henry Demarest Lloyd in Chicago, [London, mid-March 1893]; the draft is undated: place and date are those of the editors of the MEW (vol. 39, p. 51). Written by Engels at the foot of Lloyd's typewritten letter of 9 March 1893, to which it replies. Manuscript preserved at the IISG (Karl Marx / Friedrich Engels Papers, inv. K 1071), 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 ([ilegible] when they cannot be read); interlinear additions are inserted where they belong; [?] after an uncertain reading. Traducción al español
Dr Sir
I have duly recd your two favors of 3/2 & 9/3 with enclosures. I very much regret that I shall not be able either to assist personally at your Congresses or to supply the papers you ask me for. Love[?] the This is [ilegible] circumstance[?] entirely due to the fact that for the last six or seven years I have [ilegible] been away[?] I should send them to you with the greatest pleasure, were it not that all my time is at present taken up with the manuscript of the third book of my late friend Karl Marx's great work on Capital, which I am preparing for publication. This third book ought to have been out years ago; but never [ilegible] until now could I secure that [ilegible] continued freedom from interruption which alone can will allow me to finish this my task. I have been compelled to decline all outside work, though ever so tempting, unless absolutely necessary elsewhere. By the time your Congress meets, the Ms. ought to go to press; but this could not be, were I to accede to your request. For [ilegible] the work you ask me to do, must ought not to be common everyday[?] journalistic commonplace; it ought to be the best very best I shd[?] can furnish; it would require mature study & thought; and that means a considerable sacrifice amount of time, which for the reasons given, I am unable not in a position to [ilegible] sacrifice
I have, however, forwarded you per book post, a copy of the English tran edition of the Communist Manifesto of 1848 (by K. Marx & myself) which was [ilegible] & another of my „Socialism, Utopian & Scientific" published a few months ago, as a small tribute which I hope may prove of interest to some members of your Labor Congress