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Darwin Correspondence Project

To G. H. Darwin   [29 May 1874]1

My dear George.

I forwarded this morning some proofs of Descent.—2 I am extremely sorry to hear so bad an account of yourself & that you must starve so much.—3 I write now to urge you, if you find the proofs too hard work to give them up, & I & your mother will manage them.

Thanks about Spalding: I wish that you had been here to see him: he is one of the most interesting men I have seen for a very long time: he is half-dead with diseased lungs.4

When you are at work on Exam. papers & cannot correct proofs, send card to Messrs. Clowes, Stamford St. Blackfriars to tell them there will be a week’s delay.—5 I will forward next packet of proofs. (i.e. if you do not give up job) without opening them; but if they shd. contain Revise of 1st or 2d sheet, forward them to me, for they are for German Translation.—6 I do hope we may have better account of you before long

Yours affecty. | C. Darwin

Footnotes

The date is established by the relationship between this letter, the letter to G. H. Darwin, 27 May [1874], and the letter from G. H. Darwin, 30 May 1874.
CD was preparing the second edition of Descent.
The letter from George has not been found.
William Clowes & Sons were the printers used by CD’s publisher, John Murray. George was examiner in ‘Mathematics and Classics’ for Trinity College, Cambridge; the examinations took place between 8 and 13 June 1874 (Trinity College Archive, Head Lecturer’s Book 1801–1900).

Bibliography

Descent 2d ed.: The descent of man, and selection in relation to sex. By Charles Darwin. 2d edition. London: John Murray. 1874.

Descent: The descent of man, and selection in relation to sex. By Charles Darwin. 2 vols. London: John Murray. 1871.

Summary

CD has forwarded proofs of Descent [2d edition]. Urges GHD not to work on them if his poor health makes them too tiring.

Thanks GHD about Spalding [i.e., for responding to Spalding’s request, see 9472].

Letter details

Letter no.
DCP-LETT-9474
From
Charles Robert Darwin
To
George Howard Darwin
Sent from
Down
Source of text
DAR 210.1: 22
Physical description
ALS 2pp

Please cite as

Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 9474,” accessed on 28 March 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-9474.xml

Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 22

letter