June 14, 1968

ISTITUTO DI GENETICA

UNIVERSITA DI PAVIA Prof. J. Lederberg
VIA SANT’EPIFANIO, 14 Department of Genetics
27100 - PAVIA Stanford Medical School

Pavia

Telefoni: 23.029; 29.038 - Indirizzo telegrafico: Istgenetica -

Stanford University

Palo Alto, California

Dear Josh:

I have waited so long before writing because I always
hoped to be able to give you more definite plans. Luca has
been trying to have me called in Pavia but he run into the
stubborn opposition of the local academic establishment.
This means that I have to stay in Cagliari for at least
another year (up to November 1969) with the result that the
period that I could spend in Palo Alto will be shortened.
I have been invited to present a paper at a symposium on
ribosome structure that is going to be held in KitzbUthel
around the 15th of September. After that meeting, I could
come to Stanford for a couple of months at the most. Much
as I would like to come, I wonder if it is not going to be
a too expensive extravaganza thus causing a big financial
burden on the Stanford-Pavia project. Please let. me know
your opinion,

a

We were thrilled by the news of your marriage and hope
to meet Margaret and, in due time, an adequate number of
"Lederberghini". By the way, "Vocabula Amatoria" was not
meant as a pre-~ intra~ or post-nuptial gift. Rather I
thought it was the right "livre de chevet" for a bachelor
in California. Now it should be burned in some sort of a
family auto-da-fé.

Best regards to both of you.

Ciao