My dear Sir

I asked D^r Gray to tell Mess^rs. Ticknor & Field that you would let them have 250 copies of New Edit. of Origin at $\frac{1}{2}$ price; but a letter from Gray has crossed mine on the road.² He sends the enclosed note from Mess^rs Ticknor, which I do not understand for I do not see what “Da & Co” means.³ Anyhow Gray says that they are afraid of the Appletons & will not publish an edit. of my new book. You see they recommend, as does Gray that you sh^d send copies for the American Market.⁴ But there is no hurry about this.

With respect to the Origin I do not suppose that Gray will communicate again with Mess^rs Ticknor & Field & it is not fair to ask him to take any more trouble. So you must do what you think best about sending copies of the Origin to some House in America.

Gray is going to review the new edit. & evidently thinks there would be some sale for it.⁵ It has just occurred to me that if Gray does communicate with Mess^rs. Ticknor & they accept the 250 copies it would be an awkward predicament if they were sent elsewhere. You must decide what had better be done.

My dear Sir | Yours very faithfully | Ch. Darwin

Please let me hear what you decide.—