He was bubbling over with Karl Marx, whom he had just begun to read in French. He praised Robert Owen immensely. He had been giving an address to a Clerkenwell Radical Club—found the members 'eager to learn but dreadfully ignorant.' 'All Socialists are agreed as to education.' Finely explosive against railways. Some imitation-Morris wall-paper was 'a mangy gherkin on a horse-dung ground.' Spent the evening at Top's—a long talk on birds: T.'s knowledge of them very extensive: can go on for hours about their habits: but especially about their form."
About the same time Morris wrote to Mr. T.C. Horsfall, who had made his acquaintance four years earlier in connexion with the formation of the Manchester Art Museum:
"I think on reflection that I have not much to add to what I have written in my little book" ("Hopes and Fears for Art"). "I have, as you will note, guarded myself against the imputation of wishing to get rid of all rough work. I would only get rid as much as possible of all nasty and stupid work, and what is left I would divide as equitably as might be among all classes.
"You see it was not necessary in my lectures to tell people that I am in principle a Socialist, and would be so in practice if there should ever in my lifetime turn up an occasion for action: add to this fact that I have a religious hatred to all war and violence, and you have the reason for my speaking and writing on subjects of art. I mean that I have done it as seed for the goodwill and justice that may make it possible for the next great revolution, which will be a social one, to work itself out without violence being an essential part of it."
