l i v I N T R O D U C T I O N T O V O L U M E 1 2
colleagues in London during their visit at Lord Haldane’s home, engaged in a long
discussion with the British mathematician-philosopher Alfred North
Whitehead.[60]
But Freundlich’s work had earlier been criticized by astronomer
colleagues, and Einstein jokingly speculated in a letter to Ehrenfest that the Leiden
colleagues probably “pinched” Freundlich a bit during the latter’s visit, something
that would “do him only good” (see Doc. 152 and its notes). They co-signed peti-
tions to the Astronomische Gesellschaft requesting support for empirical tests of
the predicted planetary perihelion advance, and for the planned expedition to test
gravitational light bending during the eclipse of 21 September 1922 (Docs. 216,
217). At Freundlich’s urging, Einstein intervened in September with officials in the
Prussian ministry of education in the matter of appointments at the Potsdam Obser-
vatory, but tension was already palpable, as when he reminded Freundlich that the
goodwill extended to relativity research in Berlin was essentially due to the servic-
es rendered to this subject by British colleagues (see Docs. 221, 233, 248, 331, and
Calendar entry of 31 August).
The estrangement between Einstein and Freundlich eventually erupted into open
disagreement in late December 1921. It concerned an Einstein manuscript.
It appears that Einstein had given Freundlich for fund-raising purposes the
manuscript of Einstein 1916e (Vol. 6, Doc. 30), now part of the Schwadron collec-
tion at the National Library of Israel. Later in the summer of 1921, Einstein asked
for the return of the manuscript. Freundlich did not comply, despite repeated inter-
ventions, also by Elsa Einstein (Doc. 331). By the end of September, Einstein be-
gan to openly voice reservations about Freundlich’s interference in an appointment
matter at the Potsdam observatory (Doc. 248), and by 20 December he wrote a
stern letter, demanding again the return of the relativity manuscript (Doc. 330). He
accused Freundlich of misappropriating the manuscript and even of trying to sell it
abroad, behind Einstein’s back. Despite the efforts of Arnold Berliner and others to
mediate between the two former colleagues (Docs. 337, 339), by the end of the year
Einstein submitted his resignation from the board of the Einstein Donation Fund
because of “an irreparable discord” with Freundlich (Doc. 340).
Einstein’s contribution to experimental work was not restricted to investigations
that directly pertained to his own research interests. From his correspondence with
Felix Ehrenhaft (Doc. 36), with whom he visited earlier in the year in Vienna, we
learn that he suggested detailed modifications of the latter’s experiments. He also
worked with Walther Nernst on the technical problem of making a freezing device
(“Eismaschine,” see Docs. 195, 219) and engaged in practical experiments under-
taken in the company owned by Anschütz-Kaempfe (see Docs. 293, 92, 237, 241,
263, 290, 309, 327).
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Extracted Text (may have errors)


l i v I N T R O D U C T I O N T O V O L U M E 1 2
colleagues in London during their visit at Lord Haldane’s home, engaged in a long
discussion with the British mathematician-philosopher Alfred North
Whitehead.[60]
But Freundlich’s work had earlier been criticized by astronomer
colleagues, and Einstein jokingly speculated in a letter to Ehrenfest that the Leiden
colleagues probably “pinched” Freundlich a bit during the latter’s visit, something
that would “do him only good” (see Doc. 152 and its notes). They co-signed peti-
tions to the Astronomische Gesellschaft requesting support for empirical tests of
the predicted planetary perihelion advance, and for the planned expedition to test
gravitational light bending during the eclipse of 21 September 1922 (Docs. 216,
217). At Freundlich’s urging, Einstein intervened in September with officials in the
Prussian ministry of education in the matter of appointments at the Potsdam Obser-
vatory, but tension was already palpable, as when he reminded Freundlich that the
goodwill extended to relativity research in Berlin was essentially due to the servic-
es rendered to this subject by British colleagues (see Docs. 221, 233, 248, 331, and
Calendar entry of 31 August).
The estrangement between Einstein and Freundlich eventually erupted into open
disagreement in late December 1921. It concerned an Einstein manuscript.
It appears that Einstein had given Freundlich for fund-raising purposes the
manuscript of Einstein 1916e (Vol. 6, Doc. 30), now part of the Schwadron collec-
tion at the National Library of Israel. Later in the summer of 1921, Einstein asked
for the return of the manuscript. Freundlich did not comply, despite repeated inter-
ventions, also by Elsa Einstein (Doc. 331). By the end of September, Einstein be-
gan to openly voice reservations about Freundlich’s interference in an appointment
matter at the Potsdam observatory (Doc. 248), and by 20 December he wrote a
stern letter, demanding again the return of the relativity manuscript (Doc. 330). He
accused Freundlich of misappropriating the manuscript and even of trying to sell it
abroad, behind Einstein’s back. Despite the efforts of Arnold Berliner and others to
mediate between the two former colleagues (Docs. 337, 339), by the end of the year
Einstein submitted his resignation from the board of the Einstein Donation Fund
because of “an irreparable discord” with Freundlich (Doc. 340).
Einstein’s contribution to experimental work was not restricted to investigations
that directly pertained to his own research interests. From his correspondence with
Felix Ehrenhaft (Doc. 36), with whom he visited earlier in the year in Vienna, we
learn that he suggested detailed modifications of the latter’s experiments. He also
worked with Walther Nernst on the technical problem of making a freezing device
(“Eismaschine,” see Docs. 195, 219) and engaged in practical experiments under-
taken in the company owned by Anschütz-Kaempfe (see Docs. 293, 92, 237, 241,
263, 290, 309, 327).

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