Letter from Freud to Fliess, June 28, 1892

Vienna, June 28, 1892

Dearest friend:

I have had no opportunity other than in memory to refer back to the beautiful evening on which I saw you1 among yours next to your bride. You know that in the meantime my respect for your diagnostic acumen has only increased further and when in the “upheaval of memory”2 I happened upon you, the comforting thought welled up in me: he is now well taken care of and in good hands. This certainty also set the tone for my correspondence with you. You will not misunderstand it.

The reason for writing to you is that Breuer has declared his willingness to publish jointly our detailed theory of abreaction, and our other joint witticisms3 on hysteria. A part of it that I first wanted to write alone is finished, and under different circumstances would certainly have been communicated to you.

The installment of Charcot that I am sending you today has turned out quite well, but I am annoyed that there are several uncorrected accentual and grammatical mistakes in the few French words. Pure sloppiness!

I hear that you are now expecting a return visit. I hope you will do me the favor of giving me a hint of what to send you for the new household as a token of my own and my wife's best wishes for the new house.

Most cordial greetings to you, your Ida, and parents, who received me with such undeserved kindness, from your

Sigm. Freud

Mrs. Gomperz is plaguing me with questions about how she should repay you for your efforts on behalf of Rudi.4