My dear Sir

I am very much obliged to M^r. Murray & you for your kindness; but I am now uneasy about your risk, & if M^r. Murray really thinks that a scientific work would sell considerably worse at this season than late in the autumn, I sh^d. be very unwilling to take the responsibility on my own shoulders.—¹ I do not forget that the risk is yours. Pray therefore decide as you think fit, & however you decide I am not the less obliged to M^r Murray for his prompt yielding to my desire.—

If the book is to be published as soon as possible, you must inform M^ssrs Clowes, for I told them, when I returned the index, finally corrected, that there was now no hurry, as the time of publication was altered.²

My dear Sir | Yours very sincerely | Ch. Darwin

You will see that I am not so sulky as I was when I wrote last.

P.S. I shall be in London on Thursday morning & will endeavour to call on you.—³