[London] 5.Mai [1851]
Lieber Engels!
Ich schicke Dir, hier nachfolgend, eine Kopie des Artikels über die Anwendung der Elektrizität auf die Agrikultur, wörtlich englisch. Du bist so gut und schreibst mir umgehend,
1. was Du von der Sache hältst.
2. Erkläre mir die Geschichte, da ich nicht ganz klug draus werde, in plain German1.
A field is divided into oblong squares, 76 yards long and 40 yards wide, and containing therefore, just one acre each. Das Obenstehende ist der Plan eines solchen square.
An jedem der Punkte A,B,C und D pegs are driven into the ground; the external lines represent strong iron wires, extending from and fastened to each of the 4 pegs, and communicating with each other, so as to form a square of wire, sunk 3 inches below the surface; at the Points E and F Poles are fixed in the ground 15 feet high; a wire is connected with the cross wire beneath the surface at the Point E, – carried up the pole and along the centre of the square to the top of the pole at F, down which it is conducted and fixed to the cross wire beneath the surface at that point. We must here remark that the square must be so formed, to run from North to South, so that the wire passing from E to F shall be at right angles with the Equator. It is well known that a considerable body of electricity is generated in the atmosphere, and constantly travelling from east to west with the motion of the earth. This electricity is attracted by the wire suspended from E to F, and communicated to the wires forming the square under the surface of the ground, from the points A, B, C and D.... any quantity of electricity could be generated, that might be required, by placing under the ground at the point G, a bag of charcoal, and plates of Zink at the Point H, et to connect the two by a wire passing over two poles similar to those at E and F and crossing the longitudinal wire passing from those points. The cost at which this application can be made is computed at one pound per acre, and it is reckoned to last 10–15 years, the wires being carefully taken up and replaced each year.
Die poles werden aus dry wood gemacht. As the area increases the cost diminishes ..... The mode in which the plot is laid out is as follows. With a mariners’ compass and measured lengths of common string, lay out the places for the wooden pins, to which the buried wire is attached (by passing through a small staple). Care must be taken to lay the length of the buried wire due north and south by compass, and the breadth due east and west. This wire must be placed from two to three inches degrees in the soil. The lines of the buried wire are then completed. The suspended wire must be attached and in contact with the buried wires at both of its ends. A wooden pin with a staple must therefore be driven in, and the two poles (one 14 feet and the other 15 feet) being placed by the compass due north and south, the wire is placed over them, and fastened to the wooden stake, but touching likewise at this point the buried wire. The suspended wire must [not] be drawn too tight, otherwise the wind will break it.
Voilà l’affaire.2
Die deutschen Zentralmänner haben sich zum xtenmal wieder vereint, und so erscheint eine Annonce von General Haug, die für den 10.Mai die Erscheinung seines „Kosmos“ ankündigt, unter Mitarbeit der Herrn Ruge, Kinkel, Ronge etc. Das wird schön werden.
Eben bringt Tupman3 einen Brief von Miquel, woraus hervorgeht, daß die deutschen Demokraten – auch einige Kommunisten – an der Spitze das Bremer Scheißblatt4 von Ruge, unermüdlich in ihren Verleumdungen gegen mich sind, und derartiges frißt natürlich bei dem deutschen Philister und Straubinger reißend um sich. Die Kerls müssen doch eine Heidenangst vor mir haben, daß sie jetzt schon alle Mittel aufbieten, um mir den Aufenthalt in Deutschland unmöglich zu machen.
Dein
K.M.
Jones hielt gestern eine wirklich famose Vorlesung gegen das co-operative movement5, worin er de front6 sein eignes Publikum attackierte. Er sagte mir, daß aus dem Blatt mit Harney wohl nichts werden wird, da mit dessen Frau kein Geschäft abzuschließen ist. Er wird einstweilen auf seine Faust ein Magazin herausgeben.