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196 speakers, deliberately inaugurate a speakers' class? Commonweal: I admit that it has been dull lately, and for the reasons you stated. You see what we want here is, once more, three or four able writers that we can depend upon; we are obliged to shove in all sorts of twaddle from time to time to fill up—such is unpaid journalism, which, however, is not so bad as paid ditto. I shall be very glad to have Mavor's help. Kindly give me his present address. As for your article, which I hurried you so for: mere printers' consideration joined with the fact that it had not to do with passing events kept it back. We are going to get together a meeting of all our London speakers to see if we can shove the thing on a bit here. I am more and more sure that what we want at present is not mere numbers but a good band of steady workers who will stick to it and who understand the subject—only we want a good many of them.

Once more I am much encouraged by your letter, and am not in the least inclined to give in.

Good luck all round.

December 15th (1888). ,—Thank you for the paper, which I will read when it is in type. I by no means have Arnold's book of Essays, not always finding them easy to read. I am sorry I can't help you in the matter. I was very sorry to hear the sad private news of your last letter.

The Anarchist element in us seem determined to drive things to extremity, and break us up if we do not declare for Anarchy, which I for one will not do. On the other hand the 'Moderates,' Mrs. Besant and Co., by their foolish wooden attacks on us are taking away from the reasonable party inside (if alas! we must use the word 'party') all chance of holding things together. The only thing to be done is to go on steadily trying to strengthen the local bodies. Hammersmith remains satisfactory and is increasing in solid strength, especially in speakers. But it is getting