July 26th/87

My dear Mahon

The note about Federation shall go in; & I will hand in your letter to the W&M. I must say I consider it bad business, because it comes to this that the papers which you professed have sold were really disposed of gratis: it is this kind of thing which is striking Commonweal, and I cannot see why you should not have sent up the money for the copies actually sold, which is all that we can expect any one to do: it is exceedingly stupid of us to be unbusinesslike. Well in return do please try to collect some money for Commonweal: if we can't get a good deal together it will not live through the autumn, I mean as a weekly. 

I heard a rumour that Donald is going to Birmingham to agitate not for the League but for the 'Midland Socialist Federation'? Is this true? If it is, it shows treachery I should not have thought Donald capable of: though I dont rate his morals high. I don't know whether you think I have any right to give you advice, but Birmingham brings Sketchly to my mind, & I hold him out to you as a warning as a man who has to live on the party by—well by cadging. I think that a bad business, and strongly advise you to get to your work again & stick to it for fear you might drop into that line. Its all very well for a time, at some special crisis to do as you have been doing; but it can't last in a reasonable way. It is perhaps possible that the party might at some time or other have paid lecturers, but I dont know, anyhow it cannot keep them now.

I am sorry I didn't meet you when you were in town, as I should have said this to you instead of writing it. Wishing you luck & again begging you to do your best to save the Weal from extinction

I am Yours truly W Morris