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.

Summary

Discusses the price to be charged to Appleton’s for the plates of Insectivorous plants.

Summary

Asks for quick decision on publication [of Earthworms]. Does not care whether it is published on commission or on usual terms, but wants it published in a hurry. Cannot guess at sales.

Summary

Agrees that new book [Earthworms] be published on old terms. Hopes it will not fail.

CD is curious to read an essay on evolution by a Hindu, which is being sent to Murray from India.

Summary

CD thought it was understood that he wanted to publish [Earthworms] at once, but as Murray "has the risk" CD must yield, though it destroys all his satisfaction in the book to have the publication hanging over him.

Summary

CD obliged to Murray for yielding to his wish for prompt publication [of Earthworms] but now uneasy about the risk. If Murray feels it will sell badly at this season he is unwilling to bear the responsibility. Murray should decide as he sees fit. CD is no longer so sulky as when he last wrote.

Summary

Has no corrections. Pleased at sale of book [Earthworms].

Summary

Discusses additional printing of Earthworms.

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.

Summary

Very glad about sales [of Insectivorous plants]. CD had hard work to persuade Murray to increase printing to 1250 copies, but owns he thought that number would last for eternity. U. S. publication and French, German, and Russian translations in the offing.

Summary

Asks exact number of copies of recent printing of Origin.

Approves stereotyping Orchids,

but fears he cannot approve of stereotyping Cross and self-fertilisation and Forms of flowers. It is too soon for the latter, and he is too busy to correct the former.

Summary

Sends corrected sheets of Cross and self-fertilisation. How many copies will be printed? Asks whether he is correct in thinking that he has not been paid for the July printing.

Plans to correct Forms of flowers when new edition is needed.

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.

Summary

Final arrangements for publishing Erasmus Darwin. If he were publishing on commission he would have printed only 1000 copies.

Summary

Thinks W. P. Garrison’s book [extracts from Journal of researches for juvenile readers] would serve as an advertisement for the Journal.

Disappointed at sale of Erasmus Darwin.

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].

Summary

CD had intended to pay costs of publishing Movement in plants because he did not think it fair that Murray should risk publishing a purely scientific work. He would certainly prefer publishing on the usual terms if JM decided to do so. The book contains much new and curious matter, but there are very few persons in England interested in physiological botany.

Summary

CD will take the risk and the loss of Movement in plants on his own shoulders. He will have 1000 copies printed and, on RC’s advice, will charge 15s.

Summary

C. Reinwald wishes to publish a French translation [of Movement in plants] but is doubtful on account of cost. CD wants to supply him with stereotypes of the 195 cuts at prime cost.

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.