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16 March 192
111 Harley Street, London
Dear Professor,
The kind letter to my wife from you and Frau Professor came this evening and gave us both great pleasure.1 I am glad to say that she has made an uninterrupted recovery and also that Mervyn, who has acquired a most [more] civilised name than at first flourishes greatly.
Reflection of the matter of names has led me to a conclusion which may give a little trouble to my friends, but which I think I shall act on, unless you send me a hasty protest. It is to amplify my own name to Ernest Beddow-Jones, thus inserting one inherited by my father from his mother (analytically at the same time an affirmation and a repudiation of him). It seems to me a little unfair to expose one's children to the irksome task of gradually distinguishing themselves from the other half a million people called Jones (there are now even three psycho-analysts called Dr. Ernest Jones). Some names like Jones and Smith have lost the first function of a name, that is to separate them from other people, and so it is very customary here to take such a step as I propose.
I have heard nothing more from Armstrong. Did he arrive in Vienna? What did you think about Forsyth?
With kindest regards to you; it was excellent news to hear that you are so well.
yours always affectionately
Ernest Jones.
Letter missing.