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The Life and Work

regarding the Critique: "First of all, let me tell you how delighted I was that you liked the first part, for your judgment alone is important for me in this matter. To the great amusement of my wife, I awaited with considerable anxiety your judgment." Then again, in sending Engels some further sheets of the manuscript of Capital in June, 1867, he says: "I hope you will be satisfied with these four sheets. Your satisfaction with what has gone before is more important to me than anything the rest of the world might say." Where necessary, Engels criticised Marx's works quite freely, and Marx almost invariably utilised these criticisms and often altered his writings in accordance with them.

Finally, August 16, 1867, Marx had corrected the last proof sheet of the first volume of his great work, and that same day wrote to Engels:—

Dear Fred,—Have just finished correcting the last sheet. The appendix—forms of value—in small print contains 1¼ sheets.

The preface corrected yesterday and sent back. And so this volume is finished. It is only thanks to you that this was possible. Without your self-sacrifice on my behalf, I could never have accomplished the enormous work for the three volumes. I embrace you full of thanks.

Enclosed two sheets of corrected proof.

Have received the £15 with best thanks.

Greetings, my dear, my beloved friend.—

Yours,K. Marx

When at length the first volume of Capital was published, Engels left no stone unturned to advertise it, and to get the world, which tried its best to kill it by silence, to take notice of it.

Temporary Estrangement from Marx

In January, 1863, there occurred the first and only estrangement between Engels and Marx, an event which only serves to illustrate their deep and lasting friendship.

Whilst in Manchester, Engels had become acquainted with an Irish family. Burns, and had become deeply attached to one of the daughters, Mary, with whom he had lived for many years as man and wife. She was a bright, pretty, witty girl, who loved Engels passionately. On January 6, 1863, Mary died quite suddenly, probably from heart disease; the evening before he had been with her, and she had been quite well. Her death was a terrible shock to Engels, but when he wrote to Marx telling him of his bereavement, Marx answered by expressing his regret in a couple of sentences, and then proceeded to relate his own household difficulties. Engels let six days pass by before replying, and then reproached Marx for the "frosty" manner in which he had received the news of the misfortune that had befallen him (Engels). In contradistinction to Marx, "All my friends, even phili-