11th January, 1955
Dear Dr. Commoner,
Thank you for your letter of 28th November.  I am sorry if did not answer it sooner, but as you said that you would be posting some B8 to me "within a week or so" I was waiting for that before writing.  I hope there has not been any serious trouble with it.
I enclose a copy of a short paper which I have sent to "Nature".  I do not look on the heavy shell at 55 A as conclusive evidence that the RNA is there, though that is certainly a possibility.  Undoubtedly the best way of looking for the RNA is by examining the RNA-free material, and I very much hope that you will be able to send me some.  I should also very much like to look at some of the different specific gravity fractions which you mention.
I was interested in your paper in "Nature" on free radicals in biological systems (a subject which you had just started to tell me about when it was time for me to get the bus), and I should be grateful for a reprint if you have one to spare.
When you post virus material to me, the easiest form, for me, is that of a highly concentrated solution.  But it is better that it should be too wet than too dry, as once it has become too dry I find it impossible to re-disperse it well enough to prepare orientated specimens.
Yours sincerely,
Rosalind Franklin