From Whitwell Elwin to John Murray 3 May 1859
Summary
Charles Lyell has asked WE to pass his opinions on the MS of Origin to CD via Murray. WE is convinced of the value of CD’s researches but "to put forth the theory without the evidence", as in the MS, "would do grievous injustice to his views". The omission of these facts reduces both the philosophical and popular value of the work, by virtue of its dryness.
Supports Charles Lyell’s suggestion that CD should first publish his observations on pigeons with a theoretical outline, for "[e]very body is interested in pigeons". Such a work would generate wider interest and be better understood. A subsequent, larger book would then be approached with impartiality "not to say favour" by a wider public.
Author: | Whitwell Elwin |
Addressee: | John Murray |
Date: | 3 May 1859 |
Classmark: | National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms. 42197) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2457A |
From Ludwik Masłowski to [John Murray?] 25 July 1875
Summary
Has received a confusing set of engravings, with both missing and superfluous illustrations [for Polish translation of Descent].
Author: | Ludwik Masłowski |
Addressee: | John Murray |
Date: | 25 July 1875 |
Classmark: | DAR 171: 90 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-10092 |
From Louis Grenier to John Murray 22 December 1875
Summary
Encloses a letter to be forwarded to CD [see 10212].
Author: | Louis Grenier |
Addressee: | John Murray |
Date: | 22 Dec 1875 |
Classmark: | DAR 171: 474 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-10211 |
To John Murray [after 18 September 1869]
Summary
Wishes JM’s new periodical [the Academy] could have been a weekly so it might kill the Athenæum by a lingering death.
Has drafted a piece [about Descent] but is not pleased with it.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Murray |
Date: | [after 18 Sept 1869] |
Classmark: | National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms. 42153 ff. 39–40) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6900 |
To John Murray 8 November [1869]
Summary
Masson et Fils have brought out a third French edition [of Origin] without informing CD and without the advantage of the corrections of the 4th and 5th English editions. For this and other reasons CD wants to give translation rights for the 5th English edition to C. Reinwald.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Murray |
Date: | 8 Nov [1869] |
Classmark: | National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms. 42152 ff. 205–6) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6977 |
From James Leask Sinclair to John Murray 22 December 1869
Summary
Encloses memorandum for CD concerning JLS’s career and the development of his transformist views.
Author: | James Leask Sinclair |
Addressee: | John Murray |
Date: | 22 Dec 1869 |
Classmark: | DAR 177: 172 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-7031 |
To John Murray 9 April [1870]
Summary
Finds Academy contains valuable matter for his work.
Descent progresses slowly – will not be ready for press for several months.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Murray |
Date: | 9 Apr [1870] |
Classmark: | National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms. 42152 ff. 207–208) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-7162 |
To John Murray 5 [August 1870]
Summary
MS of Descent, except last chapter, is ready to send to printer. Hopes the printer will be able to keep him steadily at work correcting proof. "It drives me mad to change from job to job."
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Murray |
Date: | 5 [Aug 1870] |
Classmark: | National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms.42152 ff. 209–10) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-7265 |
To John Murray 4 September [1870]
Summary
Variation is a much better looking volume than Origin due to quality of paper and binding. Hopes JM will attend to this point in Descent. Printers have sent "splendid lot" of proofs.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Murray |
Date: | 4 Sept [1870] |
Classmark: | National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms.42152 f. 211) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-7316 |
To John Murray 26 September 1870
Summary
Wants sheets [of Descent] for foreign editions. Asks JM to determine price to be charged for the stereotypes of 62 cuts. Dallas would be excellent for the index but must be "civilly warned" not to delay. Encloses memo on the index.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Murray |
Date: | 26 Sept 1870 |
Classmark: | National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms. 42152 ff. 214–17) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-7327 |
To John Murray 29 September [1870]
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.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Murray |
Date: | 29 Sept [1870] |
Classmark: | National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms. 42152 ff. 212–13) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-7331 |
To John Murray 11 October [1870]
Summary
Glad to hear Dallas will do index of Descent, but he needs keeping up to the mark. Agrees to a Dutch edition.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Murray |
Date: | 11 Oct [1870] |
Classmark: | National Library of Scotland (John Murray archive) (Ms.42152 ff. 41–2) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-7341 |
To John Murray 22 October [1870]
Summary
He agrees with his family that binding of Variation looks much better than Origin.
Asks JM to report the number of copies he has printed of Naturalist’s Voyage [Journal of researches].
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Murray |
Date: | 22 Oct [1870] |
Classmark: | National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms.42152 ff. 218–19) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-7348 |
To John Murray 15 November [1870]
Summary
Would like to hear results of JM’s November booksale.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Murray |
Date: | 15 Nov [1870] |
Classmark: | National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms.42152 f. 43) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-7371 |
To John Murray 17 November [1870]
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.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Murray |
Date: | 17 Nov [1870] |
Classmark: | National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms.42152 f. 242) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-7374 |
To John Murray 19 February [1871]
Summary
Discusses publication of Descent. Orders copies of vol. 2 sent to Wallace, Mivart, and F. P. Cobbe.
Will attend Athenaeum and vote for RC.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Murray |
Date: | 19 Feb [1871] |
Classmark: | DAR 143: 280 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-7489 |
To John Murray 23 February 1871
Summary
Receipt for payment by John Murray of £630 for the first edition, consisting of 2500 copies, of Descent.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Murray |
Date: | 23 Feb 1871 |
Classmark: | DAR 249: 105 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-7509A |
To John Murray 8 March [1871]
Summary
Asks what his profits on the reprints of Descent will be when half have been sold.
Good reviews in Saturday Review and Pall Mall Gazette;
contemptuous one as usual in Athenæum.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Murray |
Date: | 8 Mar [1871] |
Classmark: | National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms. 42152 ff. 222–3) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-7555 |
To John Murray 13 March 1871
Summary
Pleased about sale and new issue [of Descent]. Discusses presentation copies.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Murray |
Date: | 13 Mar 1871 |
Classmark: | DAR 143: 435 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-7577 |
To John Murray 20 March 1871
Summary
Pleased with sum the reprint [of Descent] has produced. Terms of payment accepted.
Thanks JM for Nonconformist [review of Descent, 32 (1871): 240–1].
Would like to see other out-of-way reviews – especially religious.
Other reviews favourable, including Wallace’s [see 7569], which is admirable.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Murray |
Date: | 20 Mar 1871 |
Classmark: | National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms. 42152 ff. 250–1) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-7603 |
letter | (210) |
Darwin, C. R. | (201) |
Asher, G. M. | (1) |
Chiantore, G. | (1) |
Darwin, Emma | (1) |
Elwin, Whitwell | (1) |
Murray, John (b) | |
Cooke, R. F. | (1) |
John Murray | (1) |
Murray, John (b) | (210) |
Darwin, C. R. | (201) |
Asher, G. M. | (1) |
Chiantore, G. | (1) |
Cooke, R. F. | (1) |