WSD is pleased that CD approves his index draft [for Variation]; notes his objection to long list of references under "Dogs" and will try to find a principle for shortening it. He has not indexed all authors’ names; is this practice satisfactory?
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The Charles Darwin Collection
The Darwin Correspondence Project is publishing letters written by and to the naturalist Charles Darwin (1809–1882). Complete transcripts of letters are being made available through the Project’s website (www.darwinproject.ac.uk) after publication in the ongoing print edition of The Correspondence of Charles Darwin (Cambridge University Press 1985–). Metadata and summaries of all known letters (c. 15,000) appear in Ɛpsilon, and the full texts of available letters can also be searched, with links to the full texts.
WSD is pleased that CD approves his index draft [for Variation]; notes his objection to long list of references under "Dogs" and will try to find a principle for shortening it. He has not indexed all authors’ names; is this practice satisfactory?
Thanks CD for his two notes [on indexing references to authors]; will increase the scope of his citations by including those quoted in footnotes in support of statements in the text.
Has adopted CD’s plan of giving every author’s name in index [of Variation], but it causes delay.
Some corrections and queries about Variation text. Is pushing hard to finish, but CD is right that the names in the notes make the work interminable. Fears he is causing delay in publication. Is astonished at "the wonderful array of facts brought together and at the manner in which you bring them to bear".
WSD is pushing forward as fast as he can with [index to] second volume [of Variation]. The work is fearfully heavy.
Regrets that the remarks in his letter [5712] seemed to CD to be criticisms. Nothing was further from his intention. He is working hard. "The subjects often seem to elude the Index-maker."
He is vexed that CD has had to write again about the index. He has no excuse except "the nature of the work itself".
Has sent off last portion of index [to Variation]. Hopes CD will be pleased with it. Will never undertake such labour again. He fears it has been an unfavourable way to make CD’s acquaintance. Trusts to CD’s goodness not to hate his name for the rest of his life.
Thanks CD for cheque for £5.5.0 supplementing fee from J. Murray’s. Will return it if Murray provides an additional amount. Is glad CD is so well pleased. Sends notes for errata.
Forwards a letter from Secretary of Yorkshire Philosophical Society. Hopes CD will honour them by accepting.
Has heard nothing of Variation.
WSD is delighted to hear that first edition [of Variation] has sold so well.
Has received a cheque from J. Murray for 30 guineas, double what was agreed upon. Sends a postal order for the five guineas CD sent him [see 5788].
WSD expresses his willingness to do further translating for CD. Sends terms of remuneration.
The Athenæum article [review of Variation, 15 Feb 1868, pp. 243–4] is a disgrace.
WSD will keep CD’s queries about Hemiptera in mind. Secondary sexual characters are certainly more marked in exotic than in British species.
Has sent his translations [of parts of Theodor Piderit, System der Mimik und Physiognomik (1867)].
Fritz Müller’s Für Darwin [1864] would sell if well translated. WSD would be glad to undertake it.
Has difficulty translating Piderit’s use of verbissen.
Will hold F. Müller’s book until CD decides about translating it.
Thanks CD for second issue of Variation.
Is glad CD is satisfied with his translation of Piderit.
Will not start on Müller [Für Darwin] until CD has communicated with the author.
Expresses his pleasure at the opportunity of meeting CD.
Will start translating Für Darwin. Suggests it be called "A Lift for Darwin".
He never intended "A Lift for Darwin" as a serious title but as a way of arranging it. Lyell’s suggestion seems best to him: "Facts and Arguments For Darwin".
F. Müller’s corrections warrant stating that the English translation has "additions and corrections by the author".
Is gratified to hear his index [to Variation] is considered a good one.
Ernst Haeckel’s book [Generelle Morphologie (1868)], though speculative, strikes him as "one of the most remarkable books of our time".