J. Arthur Thomson an Ernst Haeckel, Aberdeen, 31. Mai 1899
Natural History Department,
Marischal College,
University of Aberdeen.
31st May 1899
Dear Professor Haeckel,
I ought to have written to you sooner to thank you for the very kind help which you gave me in gaining the Professorship of Natural History here. I have been very busy with the daily work of the session, and with the endeavour to get my laboratory into order, but I hope when greater leisure comes to do something more to justify your kindness and the lessons which I long ago learned in the Institute in Jena.
If your Custos has any duplicate specimens to spare, I should be very glad to try to arrange for exchange, e.g. with some of the common marine animals here. For I am naturally very anxious to increase the efficiency of the museum.
I am, with much gratitude and with respectful regards
Your old student
J. Arthur Thomson