From R. F. Cooke 6 August 1875
Summary
Giovanni Canestrini should be reminded that before any plates for another of CD’s books can be sent, payment must be made for those already sent.
Author: | Robert Francis Cooke; John Murray |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 6 Aug 1875 |
Classmark: | DAR 171: 462 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-10109 |
Matches: 10 hits
- … Cooke, R. F. John Murray Darwin, C. R. …
- … DAR 171: 462 Robert Francis Cooke John Murray London, Albemarle St, 50a 6 Aug 1875 Charles …
- … plants. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1875. Variation 2d ed. : The variation of …
- … Darwin. 2d edition. 2 vols. London: John Murray. 1875. Variation : The variation of …
- … and plants under domestication. By Charles Darwin. 2 vols. London: John Murray. 1868. …
- … sex. By Charles Darwin. 2 vols. London: John Murray. 1871. Expression : The expression of …
- … and animals. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1872. Freeman, Richard Broke. 1977. …
- … see letter from Ludwik Masłowski to [John Murray? ], 25 July 1875 and n. 5). See letter …
- … The enclosure has not been found, but John Murray was seeking payment for electrotypes …
- … for all CD’s other works published by John Murray, including Insectivorous plants , which …
From R. F. Cooke 5 November 1881
Summary
Memorandum: "3500 Worms!!!" sold at annual sale; 117 Movement in plants; 180 "Naturalist" [Journal of researches]; 600 Origin; 320 Descent.
Author: | Robert Francis Cooke; John Murray |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 5 Nov 1881 |
Classmark: | DAR 171: 523 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-13460 |
Matches: 8 hits
- … Cooke, R. F. John Murray Darwin, C. R. …
- … DAR 171: 523 Robert Francis Cooke John Murray London, Albemarle St, 50a 5 Nov 1881 Charles …
- … By Charles Darwin. 2d edition. London: John Murray. 1874. Earthworms : The formation of …
- … their habits. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1881. Journal of researches (1870): …
- … By Charles Darwin. New edition. London: John Murray. 1870. Movement in plants : The power …
- … of movement in plants. By Charles Darwin. Assisted by Francis Darwin. London: John Murray. …
- … with additions and corrections to 1872. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1876. …
- … 1880. Murray, John. 1908–9. Darwin and his publisher. Science Progress in the Twentieth …
From R. F. Cooke 30 August 1875
Summary
Apologises for the annoyance caused about the size of proof paper. Clears up misunderstanding. As for Climbing plants, RC thinks no less than 1500 copies of a book by CD should be printed.
Author: | Robert Francis Cooke; John Murray |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 30 Aug 1875 |
Classmark: | DAR 171: 468 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-10139 |
Matches: 10 hits
- … Cooke, R. F. John Murray Darwin, C. R. …
- … DAR 171: 468 Robert Francis Cooke John Murray London, Albemarle St, 50a 30 Aug 1875 …
- … 2d edition. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1875. Descent 2d ed. : The descent of …
- … By Charles Darwin. 2d edition. London: John Murray. 1874. Freeman, Richard Broke. 1977. …
- … for life. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1859. Variation 2d ed. : The variation …
- … Darwin. 2d edition. 2 vols. London: John Murray. 1875. Variation : The variation of …
- … and plants under domestication. By Charles Darwin. 2 vols. London: John Murray. 1868. …
- … paper. In addition to Variation 2d ed. , John Murray was publishing Climbing plants 2d ed. …
- … plants. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1875. Origin 6th ed. : The origin of …
- … and corrections. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1872. Origin : On the origin of …
To R. F. Cooke 23 October [1875]
Summary
Sends list for complimentary copies and suggests various arrangements related to publication of Climbing plants.
Thinks a revised edition of Orchids is needed.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Robert Francis Cooke; John Murray |
Date: | 23 Oct [1875] |
Classmark: | National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms. 42152 ff. 324–5) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-10216 |
Matches: 11 hits
- … Darwin, C. R. Cooke, R. F. John Murray …
- … National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms. 42152 ff. …
- … 324–5) Charles Robert Darwin Down 23 Oct [1875] Robert Francis Cooke John Murray …
- … 2d edition. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1875. Freeman, Richard Broke. 1977. …
- … Books, Shoe String Press. Insectivorous plants. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. …
- … Darwin. 2d edition, revised. London: John Murray. 1877. Variation 2d ed. : The variation …
- … Darwin. 2d edition. 2 vols. London: John Murray. 1875. Variation : The variation of …
- … and plants under domestication. By Charles Darwin. 2 vols. London: John Murray. 1868. …
- … with stereotype plates of CD’s books by John Murray at a small percentage over cost (see, …
- … IV. Like other leading publishers, John Murray held a sale dinner in November at which the …
- … 1875. Murray, John. 1908–9. Darwin and his publisher. Science Progress in the Twentieth …
To R. F. Cooke 6 October 1875
Summary
Fears Variation [2d ed.] will not be ready for Murray’s annual sale unless printer sends proof more quickly. Arrangements with Italian publishers.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Robert Francis Cooke |
Date: | 6 Oct 1875 |
Classmark: | National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms. 42152 ff. 326–7) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-10184 |
Matches: 5 hits
- … National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms. 42152 ff. 326–7) Charles Robert …
- … animals. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1872. Lyell, Charles. 1875. Principles of …
- … geology. 12th edition. 2 vols. London: John Murray. Variation : The variation of animals …
- … and plants under domestication. By Charles Darwin. 2 vols. London: John Murray. 1868. …
- … William Clowes & Sons were printers to John Murray, CD’s publisher. Publication of the …
To R. F. Cooke 22 April [1871]
Summary
Detailed questions about illustrations for [forthcoming] Expression.
Asks whether Times review has hurt sales of Descent.
The type on specimen page of Origin [6th ed.] seems clear, but lines are close. The cost is the great point for a wide circulation.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Robert Francis Cooke |
Date: | 22 Apr [1871] |
Classmark: | National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms. 42152 ff. 285–6) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-7705 |
Matches: 6 hits
- … National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms. 42152 ff. 285–6) Charles Robert …
- … April 1871, p. 5 (see also letter to John Murray, 13 April [1871] ). CD refers to Origin …
- … sex. By Charles Darwin. 2 vols. London: John Murray. 1871. Freeman, Richard Broke. 1977. …
- … corrections. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1872. Prodger, Phillip. 2009. Darwin’ …
- … at a reduced price (see Freeman 1977 ). John Murray produced a third printing of Descent , …
- … 1871 ( Freeman 1977 ). See letter to John Murray, 22 March [1871] . There was a hostile …
From R. F. Cooke 12 November 1874
Summary
New edition of Descent just off the press. Murray feels price must be 9s instead of 12s, if it is to sell. This will reduce profit to almost nil.
Author: | Robert Francis Cooke; John Murray |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 12 Nov 1874 |
Classmark: | DAR 171: 442 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-9717 |
Matches: 9 hits
- … Cooke, R. F. John Murray Darwin, C. R. …
- … DAR 171: 442 Robert Francis Cooke John Murray London, Albemarle St, 50a 12 Nov 1874 …
- … costs of future editions. The publisher John Murray customarily held a ‘sale dinner’ in …
- … to Athenæum , 1 January 1867 and n. 1). John Murray was the publisher of Origin 6th ed. …
- … By Charles Darwin. 2d edition. London: John Murray. 1874. Descent : The descent of man, …
- … to sex. By Charles Darwin. 2 vols. London: John Murray. 1871. Lyell, Charles. 1874. …
- … The student’s elements of geology. 2d edition. London: John Murray. …
- … 6th edition, with additions and corrections. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1872. …
- … Murray, John. 1908–9. Darwin and his publisher. Science Progress in the Twentieth Century …
From R. F. Cooke 26 February 1878
Summary
Asks CD’s opinion on number of copies to be printed of Cross and self-fertilisation [2d ed.]. Now that it is revised, they will stereotype.
Type of Forms of flowers stands, awaiting CD’s corrections, before stereotyping and printing of more copies.
RC regrets delay in supply of Origin.
Author: | Robert Francis Cooke; John Murray |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 26 Feb 1878 |
Classmark: | DAR 171: 500 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-11376 |
Matches: 10 hits
- … Cooke, R. F. John Murray Darwin, C. R. …
- … DAR 171: 500 Robert Francis Cooke John Murray London, Albemarle St, 50a 26 Feb 1878 …
- … By Charles Darwin. 2d edition. London: John Murray. 1878. Cross and self fertilisation : …
- … up by the printers; see ibid. , letter to John Murray, 28 November 1877 . CD had asked for …
- … and corrections. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1872. Origin : On the origin of …
- … of favoured races in the struggle for life. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1859. …
- … had sold 570 copies of Origin 6th ed. at John Murray’s November sale dinner and was having …
- … kingdom. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1876. Forms of flowers 2d ed. : The …
- … 2d edition. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1880. Forms of flowers : The different …
- … same species. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1877. Freeman, Richard Broke. 1977. …
To R. F. Cooke 9 September 1879
Summary
Pleased that JM will allow two-thirds profits [on Erasmus Darwin] for he wants Krause to receive some profit.
He and his son [Francis] are preparing a large botanical work [Movement in plants], dry as dust, which he must publish on commission. He will be lucky to lose only £100.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Robert Francis Cooke; John Murray |
Date: | 9 Sept 1879 |
Classmark: | National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms. 42152 ff. 360–1) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-12222 |
Matches: 5 hits
- … Darwin, C. R. Cooke, R. F. John Murray …
- … National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms. 42152 ff. …
- … 360–1) Charles Robert Darwin Down 9 Sept 1879 Robert Francis Cooke John Murray …
- … notice by Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1879. Krause, Ernst. 1879a. Erasmus Darwin, …
- … in plants. By Charles Darwin. Assisted by Francis Darwin. London: John Murray. 1880. …
To R. F. Cooke 23 April [1880]
Summary
His family shake heads in dismal manner at his proposed title for his MS: "The Circumnutating Movements of Plants". Makes several other suggestions [none of which was adopted].
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Robert Francis Cooke; John Murray |
Date: | 23 Apr [1880] |
Classmark: | National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms. 42152 ff. 366–7) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-12588 |
Matches: 5 hits
- … Darwin, C. R. Cooke, R. F. John Murray …
- … National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms. 42152 ff. …
- … 366–7) Charles Robert Darwin Down 23 Apr [1880] Robert Francis Cooke John Murray …
- … 2d edition. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1875. Freeman, Richard Broke. 1977. …
- … in plants. By Charles Darwin. Assisted by Francis Darwin. London: John Murray. 1880. …
From R. F. Cooke 23 February 1876
Summary
Sends cheque for Descent [2d ed., 1875 issue].
Has sent corrections to printer for Climbing plants
and Origin. Has ordered to print: 1250 copies of Origin,
500 of Climbing plants,
and 1000 of Naturalist’s voyage [Journal of researches].
Author: | Robert Francis Cooke; John Murray |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 23 Feb 1876 |
Classmark: | DAR 171: 483 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-10407 |
Matches: 8 hits
- … Cooke, R. F. John Murray Darwin, C. R. …
- … DAR 171: 483 Robert Francis Cooke John Murray London, Albemarle St, 50a 23 Feb 1876 …
- … 2d edition. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1875. Freeman, Richard Broke. 1977. …
- … CD recorded the receipt of £105 from John Murray in his Account books–banking account ( …
- … Clowes & Sons were printers to John Murray. The final corrected version (eighteenth …
- … Charles Darwin. Reprint edition. London: John Murray. 1860. Origin (1876): The origin of …
- … to 1872. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1876. Origin : On the origin of species …
- … of favoured races in the struggle for life. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1859. …
To R. F. Cooke 29 July 1872
Summary
Queries and suggestions for arrangements about foreign editions of Expression.
CD must see proofs for lettering on the plates [for Expression] to ensure that it matches the text.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Robert Francis Cooke; John Murray |
Date: | 29 July 1872 |
Classmark: | National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms. 42152 ff. 263–6) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-8433 |
Matches: 9 hits
- … Darwin, C. R. Cooke, R. F. John Murray …
- … National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms. 42152 ff. …
- … 263–6) Charles Robert Darwin Down 29 July 1872 Robert Francis Cooke John Murray …
- … provided indexes for Variation and Descent . See letter from John Murray, 9 March 1872 , …
- … and letter to John Murray, [9 March 1872 or later] . CD recorded the receipt of £315 for ‘ …
- … sex. By Charles Darwin. 2 vols. London: John Murray. 1871. Expression : The expression of …
- … and animals. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1872. Variation : The variation of …
- … and plants under domestication. By Charles Darwin. 2 vols. London: John Murray. 1868. …
- … F. Cooke, 27 July 1872 and n. 2). John Murray was CD’s publisher; D. Appleton & Co. …
To R. F. Cooke 17 June [1874]
Summary
Hopes a printing of 2000 copies [of Descent, 2d ed.] will be safe. Regrets price must be 12s. He is sure it is much improved.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Robert Francis Cooke; John Murray |
Date: | 17 June [1874] |
Classmark: | National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms. 42152 ff. 340–1) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-9496 |
Matches: 8 hits
- … Darwin, C. R. Cooke, R. F. John Murray …
- … National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms. 42152 ff. …
- … 340–1) Charles Robert Darwin Down 17 June [1874] Robert Francis Cooke John Murray …
- … By Charles Darwin. 2d edition. London: John Murray. 1874. Descent : The descent of man, …
- … Charles Darwin. 2 vols. London: John Murray. 1871. Orchids : On the various contrivances …
- … to R. F. Cooke, 10 April [1874] , and the letter to John Murray, 12 April 1874 . William …
- … and on the good effects of intercrossing. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1862. …
- … the printers used by CD’s publisher, John Murray. The first revise of Descent 2d ed. , …
From R. F. Cooke 8 October 1875
Summary
Canestrini still owes £10 from 1869 for electros of 1st edition [of Variation].
RC has urged Clowes on with printing of Variation [2d ed.],
but with Climbing plants [2d ed.] ready, it need not be done before the annual sale.
Author: | Robert Francis Cooke; John Murray |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 8 Oct 1875 |
Classmark: | DAR 171: 471 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-10187 |
Matches: 10 hits
- … Cooke, R. F. John Murray Darwin, C. R. …
- … DAR 171: 471 Robert Francis Cooke John Murray London, Albemarle St, 50a 8 Oct 1875 Charles …
- … 2d edition. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1875. Expression : The expression of …
- … animals. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1872. Lyell, Charles. 1875. Principles of …
- … William Clowes & Sons were printers to John Murray. Climbing plants 2d ed. was published …
- … considered as illustrative of geology. 12th edition. 2 vols. London: John Murray. …
- … Darwin. 2d edition. 2 vols. London: John Murray. 1875. Variation 2d US ed. : The variation …
- … and plants under domestication. By Charles Darwin. 2 vols. London: John Murray. 1868. …
- … copy of vol. 1 of Variation 2d ed. for John Murray’s November sale dinner (see J. Murray …
- … Murray, John. 1908–9. Darwin and his publisher. Science Progress in the Twentieth Century …
From R. F. Cooke to W. B. Tegetmeier 18 April 1865
Summary
Concerning an illustration for CD’s book.
Author: | Robert Francis Cooke |
Addressee: | William Bernhard Tegetmeier |
Date: | 18 Apr 1865 |
Classmark: | DAR 148: 1 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-4815F |
From R. F. Cooke 25 October 1872
Summary
Murray’s will allow CD 18 copies [of Expression].
All foreign publishers, except Dutch, have paid for the plates.
Author: | Robert Francis Cooke; John Murray |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 25 Oct 1872 |
Classmark: | DAR 171: 426 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-8575 |
Matches: 7 hits
- … Cooke, R. F. John Murray Darwin, C. R. …
- … DAR 171: 426 Robert Francis Cooke John Murray London, Albemarle St, 50a 25 Oct 1872 …
- … refers to Expression and Descent , and to John Murray. At CD’s request, Origin 6th ed. …
- … than previous ones (see letter to John Murray, 8 January [1872] and n. 3). Hermanus …
- … sex. By Charles Darwin. 2 vols. London: John Murray. 1871. Expression : The expression of …
- … and animals. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1872. Origin 6th ed. : The origin of …
- … 6th edition, with additions and corrections. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1872. …
To R. F. Cooke 17 December [1875]
Summary
Discusses payment of £10 owed by Italians.
"No corrections for Voyage of Beagle [Journal of researches]."
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Robert Francis Cooke; John Murray |
Date: | 17 Dec [1875] |
Classmark: | DAR 143: 292 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-10304 |
Matches: 10 hits
- … Darwin, C. R. Cooke, R. F. John Murray …
- … Robert Darwin London, Bryanston St, 2 17 Dec [1875] Robert Francis Cooke John Murray …
- … edition. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1875. Correspondence : The correspondence …
- … and animals. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1872. Journal of researches (1860): …
- … CD’s letter has not been found. John Murray charged an additional sum for supplying the …
- … edition was published in 1845 by John Murray, who also issued all further UK reprints in …
- … and corrections. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1872. Variation 2d ed. : The …
- … Darwin. 2d edition. 2 vols. London: John Murray. 1875. Variation : The variation of …
- … and plants under domestication. By Charles Darwin. 2 vols. London: John Murray. 1868. …
- … Darwin. Reprint edition. London: John Murray. 1860. Journal of researches : Journal of …
To R. F. Cooke 9 November [1875]
Summary
Climbing plants has sold better than he expected.
Thinks another 1000 of Origin may have to be printed; he has no corrections to make.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Robert Francis Cooke; John Murray |
Date: | 9 Nov [1875] |
Classmark: | National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms. 42152 ff. 322–3) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-10252 |
Matches: 7 hits
- … Darwin, C. R. Cooke, R. F. John Murray …
- … National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms. 42152 ff. …
- … 322–3) Charles Robert Darwin Down 9 Nov [1875] Robert Francis Cooke John Murray …
- … 2d edition. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1875. Freeman, Richard Broke. 1977. …
- … plants. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1875. Origin 6th ed. : The origin of …
- … and corrections. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1872. Variation 2d ed. : The …
- … under domestication. By Charles Darwin. 2d edition. 2 vols. London: John Murray. 1875. …
To R. F. Cooke 29 June [1875]
Summary
Mentioned to Appleton only that stereotypes [for Insectivorous plants] would be provided for "a little above cost price". Glad the price of the book will be 14s. He likes making money, but cares more for wider distribution of his books. Is uneasy about sale of Insectivorous plants.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Robert Francis Cooke; John Murray |
Date: | 29 June [1875] |
Classmark: | National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms. 42152 ff. 334–5) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-10035 |
Matches: 7 hits
- … Darwin, C. R. Cooke, R. F. John Murray …
- … National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms. 42152 ff. …
- … 334–5) Charles Robert Darwin Abinger Hall 29 June [1875] Robert Francis Cooke John Murray …
- … plants. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1875. Variation 2d ed. : The variation of …
- … under domestication. By Charles Darwin. 2d edition. 2 vols. London: John Murray. 1875. …
- … 1875 . Cooke had earlier told CD that John Murray was willing to provide stereotype plates …
- … it as a separate volume ( letter from John Murray, 9 April [1875] ). CD began work on …
To R. F. Cooke 20 October 1880
Summary
CD promised Reinwald the clichés [for Movement in plants] at cost, so he is to be charged £10. Eduard Koch should be charged £25, since CD’s books sell well in Germany – but Koch must not know the French have them for £10.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Robert Francis Cooke; John Murray |
Date: | 20 Oct 1880 |
Classmark: | National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms. 42152 ff. 376–7) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-12769 |
letter | (188) |
Cooke, R. F. | (114) |
John Murray | (113) |
Darwin, C. R. | (72) |
Cundall, Joseph | (1) |
Tegetmeier, W. B. | (1) |
Darwin, C. R. | (113) |
Cooke, R. F. | (74) |
John Murray | (66) |
Murray, John (b) | (1) |
Tegetmeier, W. B. | (1) |
Cooke, R. F. | [X] |
Darwin, C. R. | (185) |
John Murray | (179) |
Tegetmeier, W. B. | (2) |
Cundall, Joseph | (1) |
Murray, John (b) | (1) |

John Murray
Summary
Darwin's most famous book On the origin of species by means of natural selection (Origin) was published on 22 November 1859. The publisher was John Murray, who specialised in non-fiction, particularly politics, travel and science, and had published…
Matches: 11 hits
- … was published on 22 November 1859. The publisher was John Murray, who specialised in non-fiction, …
- … his name and in 1768 acquired a publishing house. The third John Murray, who followed his father as …
- … house; the seventh sold the business in 2002. The John Murray Archive was acquired by the …
- … University Library a similar number of letters from John Murray and Robert Cooke, his cousin and …
- … had proved to be a scientific best-seller for the second John Murray, to open negotiations with his …
- … began the business relationship between Charles Darwin and John Murray. Darwin’s next …
- … . Again he asked Lyell to act as his intermediary with John Murray ( Letter 2437 ), who, without …
- … had paid Darwin profits of nearly £3000. The third John Murray made a successful business …
- … ). Darwin’s next publishing project with John Murray in 1869 was a translation into English …
- … in the Quarterly Review , a magazine published by John Murray.The pamphlets were not primarily …
- … his orders ( Letter 8616 ). However, when Robert Cooke, John Murray’s cousin, went round to …
List of correspondents
Summary
Below is a list of Darwin's correspondents with the number of letters for each one. Click on a name to see the letters Darwin exchanged with that correspondent. "A child of God" (1) Abberley,…
Matches: 1 hits
- … Job, R. A. (1) John Murray (181) …

Darwin in letters, 1865: Delays and disappointments
Summary
The year was marked by three deaths of personal significance to Darwin: Hugh Falconer, a friend and supporter; Robert FitzRoy, captain of the Beagle; and William Jackson Hooker, director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and father of Darwin’s friend…
Matches: 4 hits
- … Variation . In March Darwin wrote to his publisher, John Murray, ‘Of present book I have 7 …
- … forward, except the last & concluding one’ ( letter to John Murray, 31 March [1865] ). In …
- … will be ready for the press in the autumn’ ( letter to John Murray, 4 April [1865] ). In early …
- … ‘I am never idle when I can do anything’ ( letter to John Murray, 2 June [1865] ). It was not …

Darwin in letters, 1867: A civilised dispute
Summary
Charles Darwin’s major achievement in 1867 was the completion of his large work, The variation of animals and plants under domestication (Variation). The importance of Darwin’s network of correspondents becomes vividly apparent in his work on expression in…
Matches: 4 hits
- … of the size of the two-volume work from his publisher, John Murray, he wrote to Murray on 3 …
- … is as good as praise for selling a Book’ ( letter to John Murray, 31 January [1867] ). A …
- … to translate Variation . Indeed, he told his publisher, John Murray, in a letter of 4 April …
- … time it took William Sweetland Dallas to prepare the index. John Murray had engaged Dallas and …

Darwin in letters, 1872: Job done?
Summary
'My career’, Darwin wrote towards the end of 1872, 'is so nearly closed. . . What little more I can do, shall be chiefly new work’, and the tenor of his correspondence throughout the year is one of wistful reminiscence, coupled with a keen eye…
Matches: 4 hits
- … to spread my views’, he wrote to his publisher, John Murray, on 30 January , shortly after …
- … photographic plates with his overseas publishers, and with John Murray’s assistant, the excitable …
- … of the booksellers, encouraged an originally cautious John Murray to gamble on the book’s success: & …
- … attractive dishes in his `Literary Banquet’ (letters from John Murray, 6 November [1872] and 9 …

Darwin in letters, 1874: A turbulent year
Summary
The year 1874 was one of consolidation, reflection, and turmoil for Darwin. He spent the early months working on second editions of Coral reefs and Descent of man; the rest of the year was mostly devoted to further research on insectivorous plants. A…
Matches: 5 hits
- … of anonymous reviews. Its proprietor was none other than John Murray, Darwin’s publisher. So …
- … to review me in a hostile spirit’ ( letter to John Murray, 11 August 1874 ). Darwin was …
- … number of the Review & in the same type’ ( letter from John Murray, 12 August 1874 ). George …
- … from E. A. Darwin, 17 [March 1874] ). He tried to persuade John Murray to publish a second edition …
- … authority on marriage customs in Descent ( see letter John Murray, 9 May [1874] ). He …

Rewriting Origin - the later editions
Summary
For such an iconic work, the text of Origin was far from static. It was a living thing that Darwin continued to shape for the rest of his life, refining his ‘one long argument’ through a further five English editions. Many of his changes were made in…
Matches: 1 hits
- … a larger target audience were also made. Darwin persuaded John Murray to include a glossary of …
Women as a scientific audience
Summary
Target audience? | Female readership | Reading Variation Darwin's letters, in particular those exchanged with his editors and publisher, reveal a lot about his intended audience. Regardless of whether or not women were deliberately targeted as a…
Matches: 1 hits
- … chapters of Origin of Species to his publisher, John Murray. He hopes that his views are …

Darwin in letters, 1871: An emptying nest
Summary
The year 1871 was an extremely busy and productive one for Darwin, with the publication in February of his long-awaited book on human evolution, Descent of man. The other main preoccupation of the year was the preparation of his manuscript on expression.…
Matches: 2 hits
- … ‘a windbag full of metaphysics & classics’ ( letter to John Murray, 13 April [1871] ). …
- … he suspected that very few would actually sell (letters to John Murray, 17 August [1871] and …

Origin
Summary
Darwin’s most famous work, Origin, had an inauspicious beginning. It grew out of his wish to establish priority for the species theory he had spent over twenty years researching. Darwin never intended to write Origin, and had resisted suggestions in 1856…
Matches: 1 hits
- … In late March, Lyell had a word with his own publisher, John Murray, who had already published …

Darwin in letters, 1858-1859: Origin
Summary
The years 1858 and 1859 were, without doubt, the most momentous of Darwin’s life. From a quiet rural existence filled with steady work on his ‘big book’ on species, he was jolted into action by the arrival of an unexpected letter from Alfred Russel Wallace…
Matches: 4 hits
- … Lyell, 28 March [1859] ). Lyell suggested the firm of John Murray, publishers of the second edition …
- … letter from Elwin to Murray, 3 May 1859 , and letter to John Murray, 6 May [1859] ). The …
- … (letters to Charles Lyell, 28 March [1859] , and to John Murray, 10 September [1859] ), but …
- … would change their minds without good cause.’ ( letter to John Murray, 2 December [1859] ). …

Darwin in letters, 1862: A multiplicity of experiments
Summary
1862 was a particularly productive year for Darwin. This was not only the case in his published output (two botanical papers and a book on the pollination mechanisms of orchids), but more particularly in the extent and breadth of the botanical experiments…
Matches: 2 hits
- … buy it. When he submitted the manuscript to his publisher, John Murray, he boasted: ‘I can say with …
- … in the least , whether the Book will sell’ ( letter to John Murray, 9 [February 1862] ). To his …

St George Jackson Mivart
Summary
In the second half of 1874, Darwin’s peace was disturbed by an anonymous article in the Quarterly Review suggesting that his son George was opposed to the institution of marriage and in favour of ‘unrestrained licentiousness’. Darwin suspected, correctly,…
Matches: 3 hits
- … also wondering whether he should break off relations with John Murray, his own publisher and also …
- … courteous response, agreeing to all he asked ( letter from John Murray, 12 August 1874 ). …
- … having been used in a Pickwickian sense’ ( letter to John Murray, 18 October 1874 ). In other …

Darwin in letters, 1868: Studying sex
Summary
The quantity of Darwin’s correspondence increased dramatically in 1868 due largely to his ever-widening research on human evolution and sexual selection.Darwin’s theory of sexual selection as applied to human descent led him to investigate aspects of the…
Matches: 3 hits
- … domestication . Having been advertised by the publisher John Murray as early as 1865, the two …
- … in the British Museum, agreed about the authorship. John Murray thought it was by Gray himself, but …
- … me in the face, but not behind my back’ ( letter to John Murray, 25 February [1868] ). Wallace …

Darwin in letters, 1875: Pulling strings
Summary
‘I am getting sick of insectivorous plants’, Darwin confessed in January 1875. He had worked on the subject intermittently since 1859, and had been steadily engaged on a book manuscript for nine months; January also saw the conclusion of a bitter dispute…
Matches: 2 hits
- … .’ Hooker also directed some of his anger toward John Murray, the publisher of the …
- … to pay the costs for printing an additional 250 ( letter to John Murray, 3 May 1875 ). In …

Darwin in letters, 1863: Quarrels at home, honours abroad
Summary
At the start of 1863, Charles Darwin was actively working on the manuscript of The variation of animals and plants under domestication, anticipating with excitement the construction of a hothouse to accommodate his increasingly varied botanical experiments…
Matches: 1 hits
- … At the start of 1863, Charles Darwin was actively working on the manuscript of The variation of …

John Lort Stokes
Summary
John Lort Stokes, naval officer, was Charles Darwin’s cabinmate on the Beagle voyage – not always an enviable position. After Darwin’s death, Stokes penned a description of their evenings spent working at the large table at the centre, Stokes at his…
Matches: 1 hits
- … John Lort Stokes, naval officer, was Charles Darwin’s cabinmate on the Beagle voyage – not …

Darwin in letters,1866: Survival of the fittest
Summary
The year 1866 began well for Charles Darwin, as his health, after several years of illness, was now considerably improved. In February, Darwin received a request from his publisher, John Murray, for a new edition of Origin. Darwin got the fourth…
Matches: 4 hits
- … In February, Darwin received a request from his publisher, John Murray, for a new edition of On …
- … On 21 February Darwin received notification from John Murray that stocks of the third edition of …
- … out, ‘business would be totally paralysed’. Similarly, John Murray gave as a reason for his decision …
- … ‘gaieties travelling & War Bulletins’ ( letter from John Murray, 18 July 1866 ). I …

John Maurice Herbert
Summary
John Maurice Herbert was a close friend of Darwin’s at Cambridge University. He was affectionately called ‘Cherbury’ by Darwin, a reference to the seventeenth-century philosopher Edward Herbert, Baron Cherbury, who, like John Herbert, hailed from…
Matches: 1 hits
- … chapter. Edited by Francis Darwin. 3 vols. London: John Murray. 1887–8. …

Darwin's in letters, 1873: Animal or vegetable?
Summary
Having laboured for nearly five years on human evolution, sexual selection, and the expression of emotions, Darwin was able to devote 1873 almost exclusively to his beloved plants. He resumed work on the digestive powers of sundews and Venus fly traps, and…
Matches: 1 hits
- … “for Heaven knows when it will be ready” ( letter to John Murray, 4 May [1873] ). Keeping …