Letter from Julian Huxley to Professor David Watson

Typed and handwritten signed letter to "My dear Watson" dated 5th January 1934. 1pp. 20cm x 25cm. King's College Zoological Department headed watermarked notepaper. The advance copy of the book mentioned is Huxley's "Elements of Experimental Embryology" co-written with Gavin de Beer. "I have got a German refugee working here who is getting interesting results with Sabella". The German refugee was Fabius Gross (1906 – 1950) Hitler's Black Book entry: "Since 1934 – Researcher at King's College, London University. Speciality – genetics; experimental cytology; protozoology; experimental zoology." Gross and Huxley published 'Regeneration and reorganisation in Sabella' in 1935. The letter also mentions work with Alexander Wolsky and C. J. Bond.

Handwritten note in pencil to verso: "Touting for signatures for candidature for Roy Soc". Nominated for candidature many times from the 1920's, and failing each time, it was not until 1938 that Huxley was eventually admitted as a Fellow. The tone of the comment may indicate the fundamental opposition of those who D'Arcy Thompson called "Herr Direktor and Herr Professor" in a letter to Huxley in May 1934. [Huxley Papers]

A previously unrecorded letter.

Sir Julian Sorell Huxley FRS (1887 - 1975) British evolutionary biologist, philosopher.

Professor David Meredith Seares Watson FRS, FGS, HFRSE LLD (1886 – 1973) Jodrell Professor of Zoology and Comparative Anatomy at University College London.

Ref. Jaenicke, L. "Fabius Gross (1906 – 1950), a protistologist almost lost from history"