October 18, 1971
Dear Arthur:
Thank you for your warm letter.  I am eager to know the outcome of your test of the RNA primer hypothesis, especially since we are not favorable toward models with such tight coupling!
In regard to the question raised in my letter, I hasten to say that I am sure that your recognition of RNA polymerase involvement is completely original and independent.  The argument from the properties of all known DNA polymerases is strong.  Instead, I am concerned that the average reader of your paper will not be able to enjoy the idea in the way Dale did when you told him about it.  There is a great deal of intellectual pleasure in seeing an idea reached independently by several different pathways of half-blind groping.  Only your paper can point out this connection since the lambda papers are already published.
I hope this clarifies my feelings.
Best regards,
William F. Dove