Summary

Will try to get certain insectivorous plants for CD, especially Utricularia. Is glad to hear he has taken up Drosera.

Summary

Thanks for the Pinguicula plants, which have recovered, and asks if he could also send Utricularia, since his other supplies have failed.

Summary

Warns CD against idleness.

Suggests readings in Xenophon and Horace.

Quotes Oliver Goldsmith to correct CD’s pronunciation of "sloth".

Summary

"All about household and money matters." The family is now living on about £1000 per annum. Plans a new walk and additions to the house.

Summary

Discusses woodcut illustrations [for Fossil Cirripedia, vol. 1]. Wants species descriptions to be in both Latin and English.

Summary

Erasmus Alvey Darwin has rheumatism; his sisters complain of his bad temper but CD thinks him very good tempered. CD has received a new cabinet. [This is the first of six entries written in a "Memorandum book" comprising four sheets folded into a gather and sewn together in book form. The entries are in the style of letters addressed to an unnamed friend and are dated between 1 and 12 January 1822, shortly before CD’s thirteenth birthday. As they were written straight into the memorandum book, it is clear that they were never sent through the post, but were either to an imaginary recipient, or intended to be read by someone in the household, possibly CD’s youngest sister, Emily Catherine Darwin (Catherine).]

Summary

Sends first copy of new [6th] edition of Origin. Expenses have been much higher than estimated because of extensive revisions. 3000 copies retailing at 6s would yield only £100 profit. Suggests fixing price at 7s 6d.

Summary

Arranges for distribution of new [4th] English edition of Origin in the U. S.

Summary

Family and Shropshire news.

Summary

Ask JR to advise the Queen to issue Her Royal Commission of Inquiry into the best methods of securing the improvement of the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge.

Summary

On the strength of CD’s details about his work on species and his knowledge of CD’s former publications, JM offers to publish [Origin] without seeing the MS.

Summary

Discusses presentation copies [of the Origin].

Summary

As an author of some scientific works CD is of the opinion that each bookseller should settle, each for himself, the retail price.

Summary

Movement in plants will be 600 pages. Does CD wish to publish at own expense or on the usual terms with Murray? Estimates expense of printing and possible profit.

Summary

Believes Lythrum is trimorphic. Asks AG for seeds of plants he suspects are polymorphic.

Summary

In doubt about size of printing of the 2d edition of Descent. Profit on 2000 at 12s would be only £250.

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.

Summary

Acknowledges receipt of [The naturalist’s pocket] almanack edited by LJ. Suggests some improvements.