My dear Sir!

It is only now, that Your great present to the Station’s Library has reached me.¹ I have been for 5 weeks in Germany to treat with the different Governments and Academies on a plan of organising the general participation in the great Laboratories, which during next summer are to be completed.² I hope, that it has been a successful trip; at least I have met with a general applause and with every readiness to assist from the side of the Governments,—especially at Berlin. Also Italy will do something of the kind. As soon as all will be arranged, I will write an article into “Nature” to communicate at once with all those who take an interest in the whole plan and have already assisted in its execution.³

The library is growing very fast,— I hope in short to publish a catalogue of what it contains already. The British Association has granted the complete set of their publications, and the Zoological Society their Proceedings.—⁴

My life here is a constant fight with intrigues and difficulties raised by the Municipality. But I knew beforehand that the best part of energy here would be not to get tired, and always rebegin, if anything went wrong. And thus I feel quite safe, that I’ll get over all the numerous obstacles, which they will further throw in my way.

I had, of course, no time for scientific work; nevertheless I have made some progress with the chapter of Vertebrate-ancestry and Morphology, and it drives me further and further away from what now seems pretty generally to be accepted.⁵ Then I got at last two specimen of Anelasma Squalicola, which I once took the liberty of asking also from You. It was then a most perplexing problem that I hoped to solve by the investigation of this curious Cirriped,—and I am glad, that my deductions at that time were quite right, and are the only true ones to lead to an understanding of that strange group of Parasitic Cirripedia, the Rhizocephala. I hope in short to be able to send You a short notice on that, which will, I hope, meet some interest.⁶

In April I hope to open the Aquarium and in September the Laboratory,—i.e. the Morphological one and that for Botany. The physiological one will take up some more time of preparation.⁷

I take the liberty of sending You a small pamphlet, by which I have tried to make understood, what were in general the motives and what are the ends of founding this Zoological Station.

I hope very sincerely, this letter will find You in good health. Please remember me most kindly to Mrs. Darwin and to Your son.⁸

And once more my heartiest thanks for the generosity You showed in sending all Your books. It will stimulate me to succeed.

Ever Yours very sincerely | Anton Dohrn