Darwin, C. R. to Murray, John (b)
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Thanks JM for Quarterly Review. A. R. Wallace's article inimitably good – and a triumph that it appears where it will make B[ishop] of O[xford] and Owen gnash their teeth.
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Delighted at the sale of F. Müller's book.
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Thinks he has brought Origin up to "present standard of science" [5th ed. (June 1869)].
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Slow progress on Descent.
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His horse rolled over him, but he is recovering rapidly.
Summary Add
Transcription
Down. | Beckenham | Kent. S.E.
Ap. 29
My dear Sir
Some of the Ladies took off the cover of Quarterly & burnt
it, & I had no idea who sent it. I thank you sincerely for the
present. The article by Wallace is inimitably good & it is a
great triumph that such an article sh
I am delighted to hear of sale of Fritz Müller.
It is good news that you will print 2000 copies of Origin at
14
I am making slow, but sure progress with my present book.—
Thanks for your kind enquiries about my health: my horse rolled over me & hurt me rather seriously, but I have made a surprisingly quick recovery.
My dear Sir | Yours very sincerely | C. Darwin
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- f1 6718.f1
The year is established by the relationship between this letter and the letter from John Murray, 28 April [1869]. - +
- f2 6718.f2
The Quarterly Review was published by John Murray; he had evidently sent the issue containing an anonymous review by Alfred Russel Wallace that discussed CD's theory of natural selection ([Wallace] 1869b; see letter from John Murray, 28 April [1869]). CD also refers to the bishop of Oxford, Samuel Wilberforce, and Richard Owen, both notable opponents of CD's theory. The `Ladies' would have been Emma Darwin, Henrietta Darwin, and Elizabeth Darwin; it is not known why they burned the cover. - +
- f3 6718.f3
John Lubbock. - +
- f4 6718.f4
See letter from John Murray, 28 April [1869] and n. 2. - +
- f5 6718.f5
CD refers to Origin 5th ed. and to Descent. - +
- f6 6718.f6
See letter to A. R. Wallace, 14 April 1869 and n. 12.