12 DOCUMENT 6 FEBRUARY 1903 [6]Maja Einstein was tutoring Besso's sister, Bice (1890-1965), in Trieste (see Vol. 1, Biography of Winteler-Einstein, p. 389). [7]The bookkeeper may have been owed wages by Hermann Einstein. For the extent of the latter's debt at the time of his death, see Inventory of Assets of the Einstein Household, Part two, 31 October 1902, IMN, notarial files of Domenico Riva, no. 3222/1231. [8]Einstein had given up attempts at obtaining a doctorate from the University of Zurich a year earlier (see Receipt for the Return of Doctoral Fees, 1 February 1902 [Vol. 1, Doc. 132] see also Vol. 2, the editorial note, "Einstein's Dissertation on the Determination of Molecular Dimensions," pp. 173-176, for an account of Einstein's earlier efforts to obtain a doctorate). He probably based his hopes for becoming a Privatdozent without a doctorate on a clause in the regulations of the University of Bern, which states that "in exceptional cases, when out- standing publications exist, submission of a doctoral diploma can be dispensed with" ("in Aus- nahmefällen, wenn hervorragende litterarische Leistungen vorliegen, kann von einer Einrei- chung des Doktordiplomes abgesehen werden") (see Bern Reglement 1891, §2). By January 1903, Einstein had completed four papers, three of which had already been published in the Annalen der Physik (see Einstein 1901, 1902a, 1902b, 1903 [Vol. 2, Docs. 1-4]). [9]For evidence of an earlier interest in this topic, particularly in writing the ill-fated disser- tation, see Einstein to Marcel Grossmann, 14 April 1901 (Vol. 1, Doc. 100), Mileva Marie to Helene Savic, ca. 23 November-mid-December 1901 (Vol. 1, Doc. 125), and Einstein to Swiss Patent Office, 18 December 1901 (Vol. 1, Doc. 129). See also Vol. 2, the editorial note, "Ein- stein on the Nature of Molecular Forces," pp. 3-8. The work on molecular forces referred to in this letter did not result in a publication. [10]Viktor von Richter (1841-1891) probably an edition of Richter 1876 (its most recent edition before 1903 was the 9th edition [Richter 1900-1901]). [11]Besso's wife Anna Besso-Winteler (1872-1944) and son Vero (1898-1971). 6. From Michele Besso, with Two Enclosures Trieste, 7-11, II. 03 Lieber Albert, Deine beiden Briefe habe ich seinerzeit erhalten. Für die Anregungen und freundlichen Ausdrücke des zweiten danke ich vorläufig und komme weiter unten darauf zurück. Was den ersten betrifft,[1] war es mir von Anfang an klar, dass ich kein Recht gehabt hätte Deiner Schwester ihr Gehalt vorzuenthalten:[2] doch habe ich mich erkundigt und Herr Ansbacher[3] muss Dir inzwischen über die An- gelegenheit berichtet haben. Es wird mir recht sein wenn Du mir Dein Ein- verständnis bestätigst. Im zweiten Briefe sagst Du nichts von Deiner Influenza. Bist Du nun wie- der ganz wohl? * Ich hole nach was ich schon längst versprochen. 1)Nach Battelli und Stefanini[4] wären die i Werte (i für nicht dissozierte