Summary

Acknowledges receipt of promissory note for £372 from JM for third edition of Origin.

Summary

There is no chance of publication [of Variation] by autumn, because of CD’s illness.

Summary

Greatly pleased at sale [of Climbing plants].

Points out a discrepancy in their records of copies of Origin printed.

500 more copies of Insectivorous plants should last forever.

Summary

CD did not promise Appleton stereotypes of text [of Descent]; only of cuts.

Wishes to know which passage JM thought "coarse". Remembers only a quotation from John Hunter on courtship of female being required "to give her desires" [Descent 1: 273]. He fancied a quotation rendered the sentence less coarse.

Summary

Relieved by JM’s note and by his agreement on type size. Is alarmed by what the verdict [on Variation] of JM’s friend will be. He is not a man of science. An unscientific reader would have condemned the Origin. An eminent semi-scientific man thought the Journal of researches not worth publishing.

Summary

Receipt for payment by John Murray of £630 for the first edition, consisting of 2500 copies, of Descent.

Summary

Asks to be informed whenever more copies of his books are printed, as there may be errors to correct.

Asks how many copies of Origin have been printed "from the first". The number will be "a good puff" when listed in the new edition of Variation.

Summary

Thanks for accounts which make everything intelligible to him. Since he was glad to have Orchids published at one-half of profits for himself, he believes it would be very shabby to accept JM’s new offer of two-thirds profits. Thinks it would be fairer to both to change to JM’s usual practice with authors [i.e., annual statements of sales, payments based on them, and final accounting when all copies have been sold].

Summary

The new title is fixed. Thanks for clean sheets. As to number of copies, now that JM proposes 1500, CD is frightened.

Summary

Agrees not to receive his share of sales on Insectivorous plants until 750 or 800 copies are sold. 1250 to be printed.

Summary

Approves of type [for Variation]. Pleased to hear from Hooker that he is not surprised that MS is big.

Summary

Pleased at [advance] sale [of Descent]. Suggests 3000 copies be printed. Corrections are frightful and, CD fears, will not be done until end of year.

Summary

Is convinced his chapter on man [for Variation] will excite plenty of attention and abuse, which he supposes is as good as praise for selling a book.

Summary

On publishing details for various CD books.

Has no corrections for new issue of Descent [2d ed.].

Questions amount of cheque for profits.

Summary

Encloses signed receipt for promissory note for £150 from John Murray. Hopes to have pleasure of meeting him soon. Is particularly obliged for promise of information on success of volume.

Summary

Is disappointed at high price, 7s 6d, being considered for the cheap edition of the Origin [6th ed.]. Has been told that, in Lancashire, workmen club together to buy the Origin.

Little chance that Expression will be done this autumn.

Summary

Thanks for "pleasant remittance" of £250 for 4th edition of Origin.

Glad to see that Orchids sells a little.

Hopes Variation will be more successful.

Summary

Glad to hear Dallas will do index of Descent, but he needs keeping up to the mark. Agrees to a Dutch edition.

Summary

Would JM object to size of Orchids being same as W. N. Hutchinson, Dog breeding [1850]? Prefers little book, not to look pretentious.

Summary

Sends first six chapters [of Origin] for the press. Asks JM to urge printer to keep well ahead of CD so as not to waste time. This is important for his health’s sake.