"even should the revolution not come in between and make an end to all financial projects."
Marx undoubtedly understood the sacrifice Engels was making, and in reply to this letter, after expressing his own hope and belief (which, however, in a material sense, was not fulfilled) that in another year he would be a made man and would be able to stand on his own feet financially, he says, amongst other things, "Without you I could never have brought the work (Capital) to a conclusion, and I assure you that a load like a mountain has always lain on my mind: that chiefly on my account you have allowed your splendid powers to go to waste and to grow rusty in commerce."
Already in 1865, after describing his sad economic position at the moment—debts, etc. (and Engels, as always, came to the rescue as far as he possibly could)—Marx deplores his dependent position, and says: "The only thought that sustains me in it all is that we two form a sort of business company in which I give my time to the theoretical and the party section of the business." And it was so indeed. Engels' sacrifice was not only for the friend in whom he recognised genius of the highest order, but it was also a noble sacrifice of his own inclinations and powers for the purpose of furthering the interests of the party, and the ideals both he and Marx had at heart.
In addition, when in the beginning of 1851 Marx was invited to write for the New York Tribune, Engels was of great assistance. In the first place, at that time Marx was not yet a sufficient master of the English language to write in English. Engels, therefore, translated his articles for him. Secondly, when Marx had no time to write, or was unwell, or when the question to be dealt with was a military one, or anything more in Engels' domain, Engels wrote the article himself. Often enough Engels would write one or two articles during the week in addition to his work in the office and all his other studies and writings. These articles all went to the Tribune under Marx's signature and highly valued they were (though miserably paid) whether they came from Marx's or Engels' pen.
January 5, 1854, Marx writes to Engels telling him that his military articles (on the position of affairs in the Crimean War, printed by the Tribune as leading articles on November 15 and December 16, 1853) had made a "great stir and have been attributed to General Scot" (a leading military authority at that time).
In the spring of 1854, Engels seemed for a while to have had great hopes of getting well paid work on the Daily News, and he was already making joyous plans for throwing up his commercial life and coming back to London. Unfortunately, the plan came to nothing, and, much to his disgust, Engels had to remain at his Manchester office.
Early the following year Marx’s only boy, a very gifted but delicate child, fell ill and died. Marx, writing to Engels, says in one letter: "I cannot thank you enough for the friendship with which you con-
