Letter from Ernest Jones to Sigmund Freud, September 23, 1926

23 September 1926
81 Harley Street, London

Dear Professor,

I had the latest news of you last night from Rickman and was happy to think that it was good. Either he or Mrs. Riviere will take Glover's place on the Council of the Society. The vacancy at the Institute and Clinic will be filled by Edward Glover. I am to open the Clinic next Tuesday.1

When I was reading your most interesting book on Lay Analysis I planned to write you a long letter on the subject.2 After finishing the book, however, I find there is so much I should like to say that I have written to Radö asking him if he would like me to review the book.3 While you have left a few things unsaid, you have given a totally different perspective to the whole problem, a perspective which we must all feel to be of vast importance. The thing I think you have settled beyond all doubt is that it would be very injurious to our movement to forbid lay analysis. There will be lay analysts, and there must be because we need them. The necessity for training is of-course obvious. The wider question of how far we should aim at making analysis an independent profession, having only certain links with the medical one, is extraordinarily interesting, and I find there is much to say about it. In all probability, however, it will not be settled by us, but by fate.

The Laforgues are in London this week. He told me that Rank told him in June of this year that he was on most amicable terms with you (im besten Einvernehmung), in proof of which he cited the fact that he had recently given you a present that cost $300. Your interpretation of the Nietzsche Symptomhandlung was thus confirmed.

The practice here is very busy and we are nearly all occupied. I have, of-course, additional work through Glover's death, but at present feel well and fresh enough to undertake it. How I shall feel at the end of the Winter is another question.

With kindest regards,

Yours always,

[Ernest Jones]