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Summary
CD agrees to JM’s proposal of half-profits. Thinks it a mistake to print only 750 copies. The agreement on half-profit is for first edition only. CD estimates his book at a higher value than JM does.
Transcription
Down. | Bromley. | Kent. S.E.
Jan 29th
My dear Sir
I agree to your proposal about half profits. You must be the best judge, but I cannot avoid thinking that you will make a mistake if you print only 750 copies.f1 I beg you earnestly to get M.S. back immediately & let me hear immediately & I will send a servant the same day for it. I want to mark the passages for small type & to make some correction, before leaving home for a week’s rest & I must pay my visit in about a weeks time.—f2
In Haste | Yours very sincerely | Ch. Darwin
P.S. You will understand that I agree for half profits only for the first Edition, for with the weakness of an author I estimate my book at a higher value than you do.—
Endorsement: Endorsement: `1867. Jany 29′
Footnotes
- f1
- For Murray’s proposals about his payment to CD for Variation and the numbers of copies he would print, see the letter from John Murray, 28 January [1867].
- f2
- In his letter of 28 January [1867], Murray said he hoped to send the manuscript to CD in the coming week. CD visited his brother, Erasmus Alvey Darwin, in London from 13 to 21 February 1866 (see `Journal’ (Correspondence vol. 15, Appendix II)).