John Murray (Challenger Office) an Ernst Haeckel, Edinburgh, 20. September 1881
Challenger Office
32 Queen Street
Edinburgh.
20 Sept. 1881.
My Dear Haeckel
I have sent you to-day a number of papers by Dr Herdman who has been on our staff here for over two years. He is doing our Challenger Ascidians, and will I think become a first rate naturalist.
He is now || a candidate for a New Chair of Natural History, which has been founded by Lord Derby at Liverpool in connection with University College.
He is the best man in the field and is a good working man. Do you think you could write him a few words in the || form of a testimonial. If you can see your way to do so it will be of great value to him. The post is worth about £350 or £400.
I suppose you have received letters from Sir Wyville – some more proofs are to be sent to you to-day or to-morrow.
I gave Dr Hunter a letter to you some weeks ago, and he proposed to call on you at Jena. || Perhaps he knows more about British India than any other man. If you see him he will be able to give you a lot of information.
Yours very truly
John Murray.