Will attend to CD’s wishes regarding six presentation copies [of Origin, 4th ed.] for England and America.
JM states he will publish [Variation] on same basis as Origin, i.e., paying CD two-thirds of the profits.
In response to Asa Gray’s suggestion, he could supply Ticknor & Fields with 250 copies [of Origin, 4th ed.] at half-price.
Under circumstances [reluctance of Ticknor & Fields to compete with Appleton], best course is to offer Appleton the 250 copies [of 4th English edition of Origin].
The presentation copy [of Origin, 4th ed.] was sent to B. D. Walsh in August. Will send another.
Two parcels of MS [of Variation] have arrived. Will proceed with printing immediately after Christmas.
William Clowes [printer for J. Murray] estimates that Variation will come to a first volume of 648 pages and a second volume of 624 pages – which is too much for volumes the same size as Origin. Murray proposes a larger size.
CD should not be discouraged by the bulk of Variation. CD’s suggestion to print technical details in small type is good.
Murray has sent MS to a "man of letters and good information" as an experiment to test its effect. Has no intention of throwing up publication.
JM will publish [Variation] "coute qui coute", paying CD half the profits.
Thinks he can count on 500 purchases of what he calls the "Pièces Justificatives" of the Origin and will print 750 copies.
His literary friend found it "difficult of digestion".
First portion of Variation MS has been set up. Murray will not decide on number to be printed until he has read a good portion. The agreement applies only to the first edition.
Sends sheets of Origin [4th edition] for CD to correct [for 3d German edition?].
Still has 600 copies of Orchids, but deficit reduced to £30.
Undertakes to pay two-thirds of profits of the [fourth] edition of Origin as soon as one-half of the copies are sold.
Agrees that new title of Variation is an improvement. Now thinks 1500 copies a safe number to print.
Asks if he should give the clichés of Variation to E. Schweizerbart.
On cost of electrotypes from woodcuts for Variation and price to charge Schweizerbart.
He is unacquainted with Brehm’s work [Thierleben]. Asks that a volume be sent so he can form an opinion on publishing it.
Sends CD cheque for £250, two-thirds of the profits on the sale of 700 copies of Origin, 4th ed.
Hopes he has found a suitable indexer for Variation.
Schweizerbart anxious to get Variation sheets for German translation. Hopes he has found a good indexer in W. S. Dallas.
Sends Dallas’ specimen of indexing [for Variation].
Asks CD’s opinion of likelihood of a hybrid of ass and bull, reported in a MS of a journey to Asia Minor he is reading.
CD’s anxiety about the index [of Variation] will be relieved somewhat when he learns it has at last been set up.
Advance sale of Variation has exhausted the 1500 copies printed. Murray sends note for £300 author’s payment. Wants to print 1250 more immediately.
CD’s letter encourages Murray to proceed with a new edition of Variation; corrections will cost £176.
First notice has appeared in Pall Mall Gazette [7 (1868): 555].