My dear Sir

I am much obliged for your note.¹ I intended (& had as I thought so clearly expressed myself) to publish the book at my own cost & risk; but I did so merely because I did not think it fair that M^r Murray & you sh^d. have the risk of publishing a purely scientific work. I sh^d. certainly prefer to publish on the old or former terms, if, on full consideration, you decide to do so.² But I believe that you have omitted in your calculations that I have paid to M^r Cooper, for 199 or 200 woodcuts

£ s.

Feb. 3 137.18.0

May 28^th 3.11.0

£141:9:0

The cuts were rendered more expensive, as several had to be photographed on wood.—³

In favour of the book, I think I can truly say that it contains much new & curious matter; but then there are very few persons who care for physiological Botany in this country.—⁴

With respect to price I sh^d be rather sorry at cost being 15^s, & if I publish at my own cost, I will fix 14^s. & have printed off 1000 copies.—⁵

As soon as you have decided let me hear the result.—

I hope & think corrections will not be quite so heavy as on some former occasions; yet they will be considerable, notwithstanding I went thrice carefully over the completed M.S. The paper certainly must be thinner than usual.—⁶

Only 2 sheets have been returned to M^ess Clowes for Press.—

I do not yet know about stereotyped Plates for M^rs. Appleton: I have told them I could not judge whether it was worth their while to reprint the book.—⁷ There will be a German Edition & perhaps a French one.⁸

With many thanks for your uniform kind attention to my wishes I remain, My dear Sir | Yours sincerely Ch. Darwin

P.S. Please remember about Index-maker⁹