98 THE UTOPIAN COMMUNIST
the story of his arrest and prosecution, and recommended his three
major works as the creation of an "intelligent, clear and contem
plative theorician."^4
Weitling's arrival in London near the end of August was cele
brated by a "festive welcome" attended by workers representing
several national groups. Addresses were made by the leader of the
French section, by Karl Schapper for the Germans, and by the
English publisher of the New Moral World. The guest of honor
responded with an optimistic account of the spread of communism
in Germany, stressed the international character of the movement,
and predicted its ultimate success from Berlin to Vienna, from
Cologne to Königsberg, and from Prague to Langenbielau.
Barmby called promptly on his German co-worker in the vine
yard of communism. He reported that he was an impressive leader,
of "middling stature, clear full eyes, broad forehead and expressive
features," vigorous and effective in speech, but with a still "de
fective" knowledge of English. Although Weitling already had
begun to write his prison memoirs, he expressed a readiness to
translate English articles for the German communist press. Shortly
thereafter he was invited to visit Joshua Jacob and Abigail Beale
in Ireland. To the invitation, which was couched in strange
religious jargon, the German leader replied in a letter "slightly
anglicised in spelling" by his new friend Barmby, expressing the
writer's sympathy and that of all foreign communists for the prin
ciples advocated by the Beales, commending them for their toler
ance of various religious faiths, but declining the invitation to visit
the Emerald Isle.^5
(^4) Promethean, March, 1842, p. 54; Communist Chronicle, I, No. 5, p. 80; No. 13,
p. 144; No. 14, p. 149; also Young Germany, An Account of the Rise, Progress
and 5 Present Position of German Communism (London, 1844), passim.
Extracts from Weitling's letter indicate his progress in English composition
and his peculiarities of style. He wrote, in part, "I am to say you, that I partake
the same opinions, belonging to the aim of the principles. ... I am delighted to
hear that you are not a community sterile, but also are expanding your principles
by writing and printings. I was heartily pleased to hear from your letter, that you
had invited brother Barmby to bring me over to Ireland, for to see you. Take
hereby the expression of my sympathy and therefore the sympathies of all for-