Darwin Correspondence Project

Letter

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Summary

Sends five sheets [of Origin] to printer. Incapable of forming an opinion, but thinks he has the style “fairly good and clear”. Cannot conjecture if book will be successful enough to satisfy JM.

Transcriptionf1

Down Bromley Kent [Moor Park]

25th

My dear Sir

I write to say that 5 sheets are returned to Printers ready to strike off & two more sheets require only a revise; so that I presume you will soon have to decide what number of copies to print off—

I am quite incapa-f2 of forming any opinion.— I think I have got the style fairly good & clear with infinite trouble. But whether the Book will be successful to a degree to satisfy you, I really cannot conjecture. I heartily hope it may.—

My dear Sir | Yours very sincerely | C. Darwin

I am writing this at Moor Park Hydropathic establishment whither I have had to retreat for a week’s strength, but I return home tomorrow.f3

Footnotes

f1
Dated by CD’s reference to being at Moor Park hydropathic establishment (see n. 3, below).
f2
CD did not finish the word on the next page.
f3
CD visited Moor Park from 19 to 26 July 1859 (‘Journal’; Appendix II).

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