BRITISH PSYCHO‑ANALYTICAL SOCIETY

                              18 December 1925  London W1

Dear Professor,

«IP4,0»Thank you very much for your kind letter.  Like you I have not felt in the mood for writing a Rundbrief when Abraham's life is hanging by a thread.  The latest news gives one again ground for hope, provided that exhaustion does not supervene.  Until Sachs's terrible telegram "«MDUL»Abrahams Zustand hoffnungslos«MDNM»" «FN1.××Abraham's condition hopeless.» which came on Tuesday morning, I had heard nothing from either of them since the October Rundbrief, though I had written twice to both for news.  The only rumours that had reached hear were vague but very satisfactory, including news of the operation.  The thunderbolt this week was therefore all the more overwhelming.  I need say nothing about my feelings, because your own will be the same.  There is of course general consternation among our group here, where Abraham is so much loved and respected.

The chief news from London, which I will relate to you as it is good, is that an old patient of mine has given two thousand pounds to our Institute, a sum which will probably enable us to start a clinic early in the New Year.  We are all very happy at the news, though it will mean more work.

A Mr. Earl Zinn will probably ask you for an interview before long, so I will say a word about him.  Personally he makes a very capable, shreud and fair‑minded impression.  He has had a partial analysis himself and is very favourably inclined.  He is in the interesting position of being perhaps the first representative despatched by orthodox science to form a bridge to psycho‑analysis.  He is Secretary of an important Committee for the Study of Sex which has been formed by the National Research Council of America, and they have gone about their work in an altogether praiseworthy manner, a manner showing nothing American about it beyond the feature of spending much money.  He has been deputed to investigate the possibility of our methods, work and conclusions being presented in such a way as to conform to the canons of regular scientific principles more closely than it might at first sight appear to do.  I shall be glad to co‑operate in achieving this very interesting task.

Our only thought at present is the hope that Abraham's condition will allow us to spend a rejoicing Christmas.

With kindest regards,  Yours affectionately,  Ernest Jones