John Murray an Ernst Haeckel, Edinburgh, 20. August 1898
Challenger Lodge,
Wardie,
Edinburgh.
20 August 1898.
My Dear Haeckel,
I have your postcard from Ventnor and I’m delighted to hear that you are again in England. I wrote yesterday to Cambridge that I would not be at the Congress. The fact is that my wife expects a baby about the end of this month or at all events before the 6th of September. || She is very well but is rather nervous and especially asks that I should not go far from home at the present time. I must comply with this request.
Will you come down to Scotland to see us? How long are you going to stay in this country? Rottenburgh told me some || weeks ago that you were going to Switzerland, and not coming to this country this summer so I have been rather surprized to hear that you are now at Ventnor. You will not put us about in any way if you can come down to Scotland, and it will be a great pleasure to see you here. We had all the „Valdivia” || at dinner here the other day and sent them away happy. I’ve also had Drygalski, Pfeffer and Natterer staying here within the last ten days. I’ll go any number of small excursions with you if you can come. My wife says you must not be frightened by a prospective baby!!
I hope all your family are very well
Yours sincerely
John Murray