DOCS.
39,
40
DECEMBER
1914 47
degenerate
species
which
imputes
free will
to itself. If
only
there
were
somewhere
an
island for
the
benevolent and
the
prudent!
Then also
I
would want
to
be
an
ardent
patriot.
Apart
from that,
I
am
feeling very
well,
despite
my
understandably
frequent
longing
for
my
children. The decision
to
isolate
myself is proving
to
be
a
blessing.
You cannot
understand
this in
the
least at
any rate;
but
you obviously
have
no
need to.
In recent months
I
reworked
extremely carefully
the
basis
of
the
general
the-
ory
of
rel.[4]
The
covariance
proof
of
last
spring
was
not
yet completely
right.[5]
Otherwise,
I
have also been able
to penetrate
a
few
things
more clearly.
Now I
am
entirely
satisfied with
that
matter.
You will
soon
receive
the
paper;
read
it,
you
will
find
it
very enjoyable.
Cordial
greetings
to
your
wife,
your
little
dears,
and to Lorentz.
So
once
again:
I
am
not
going
to
come
purely
for
pleasure,
but
if I
can
be
of
some
kind
of
service,
I
certainly
shall.
Yours,
Einstein
The
statement
signed
by
Lorentz and
you
has found
general acknowledgment
and
approval.
It
is
recognized
that
those wild
rumors were
unfounded.[6]
I
was
delighted
with
the
photographs
from
your idyllic
sanctum.
40. To
Mileva Einstein-Maric
[Berlin,]
12
December
1914
D[ear] M[ileva],
I notice just
now
that
I
have
paid fully
for
the
move.[1]
But the
tips to
the
people ought
to
have been
paid by you and,
if
applicable,
the
storage
fee
for
Zurich
during
the
waiting period,
and the
customs
charge.
I
request
that
you
examine the mover’s bill. Should
anything
more
have been
paid,
I
shall claim it
back.
I
declare to
you
herewith
that
I will
send
you
5,600
M
annually
in
quarterly
installments
to support
you
and
the
children,[2]
at least
as long as my
income
does not sink substantially below
the
present
level.
Best
regards
to
Albert
and
Tete. As
long as
Albert does not
answer
my
letter
I must
assume
that
it has not been
given
to
him. Otherwise
I
would write to him
again.
A.
Einstein