Central Enteric Reference Laboratory,
Golindale Avenue, London, N.W.9.

9th July, 1953.
— J}
Deer Jerk ,
I am writing this in haste to apologize for asking you for the memorandum which
I have just discovered arrived about two weeks ago. The envelope was put into the
refrigerator and I knew nothing about it until dumdmpxbheciexsix five minutesfS% am
speeding this letter on its way hoping that it will arrive simultaneously with the
preceding one which was posted this morning.

I shall let you have everything you want: within the next few days.

Thank you for the sample of PLT22V. As soon as I do another cross test, which
cannot be long deferred, I shall put it up with the other phages and let you know the
result.

I share your doubts concerning the significance of the somatic transductions
you have mentioned, especially of factor I which is notoriously variable. Have you
examined the E group phenomena yet, about which you gave a seminar the day of my
arrival in Madison?

Thank you for writing to Bruce; I think the alterations have already been made.
I gathered this from a chat with Dr. Felix who has seen the final draft of the paper;
I did not directly raise the points I discussed with you but certain details cropped
up during the discussion which made me assume that the alterations had been effected.

I will willingly accept ‘happenstance’ as you have found other examples of it;
it might perhaps restore dignity to the English language if one were able to re-
instate a few such forgotten terms, or revive the erchaic meaning of other words
which have become debased or distorted during the 19th and 20th centuries. I am
glad that you have partly cured Edwards of his antipathy towards split verbs - I
found some of his constructions extremely ugly. ;

bok at

Professor J. Lederberg,
College of Agriculture,
University of Wisconsin,
Madison, 6, Wisconsin.