This article starts by exposing a number of biographical facts concerning Herbert Silberer, one of the pioneers of the psychoanalytic movement. This information has already been presented in a new edition of selected passages from Silberer's work (Nitzschke, 1988a). The article then goes on to make a critical study of a letter written by Freud in 1922 which was thought up till now to have been addressed to Herbert Silberer. By basing our analysis on the first publication of this letter we have been able to show that it was not addressed to Herbert Silberer, but to his father Victor, thus refuting certain suppositions that are linked to the contents of this letter and according to which Freud was partly responsible for Herbert Silberer's suicide.