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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.
Has received a confusing set of engravings, with both missing and superfluous illustrations [for Polish translation of Descent].
Encloses a letter to be forwarded to CD [see 10212].
Report on sales of Origin, Insectivorous plants, and Climbing plants.
Sends cheques in payment on three of CD’s books.
Proposes to print 500 copies of Insectivorous plants before distributing the type.
JM has printed 16250 copies of Origin since 1859.
At last, Expression is beginning to sell again.
Cooke has not yet decided on number of Variation [2d ed.] to print.
Describes case of two varieties of Russian wheat, the kubanka (or White Turkish) and the saxonka, which grow side by side with no intermediate varieties. As kubanka gradually yields place to saxonka, thinks an unusual tendency to jumping variation [saltation] operates; suggests CD urge some young botanist to investigate [see ML 2: 419–22].
Sends CD his share of profits on Descent and Forms of flowers.
Wants to reprint Cross and self-fertilisation because supply of copies is entirely exhausted.
Congratulates CD on his Cambridge honour [LL.D.].
Answers CD’s query about payment made to him [for Descent and Forms of flowers] and explains the basis on which it was made. Because of CD’s wish to be paid before editions are sold off, profits must be estimated. If he were willing to accept annual statements of sales, payments based on them, and final accounting when all were sold, there would be no uncertainty. This is JM’s usual practice.
Encloses a cheque for £11.19.9. Will transmit £7.9.4 to Fritz Müller. Thanks for account of the sale of his books, which appears to be in a "lamentable state".
Is well disposed toward publishing Krause’s essay on Dr Erasmus Darwin, particularly if CD undertakes to fill up its gaps. He thinks ED’s reputation is increasing.
Likes CD’s memoir of his grandfather and offers to publish 1000 copies at his own risk, giving half the profits to CD.
Asks CD whether he is far enough along with his new work [Descent] to allow him to announce it as a forthcoming publication in his next quarterly list.
Financial adjustments for last edition of Origin
and a tentative title for the new work: "Descent of man and selection according to sex". [Later changed to "in relation to sex".]
JM informs CD that he will have Clowes give him written assurance that the printing [of Descent] will proceed without interruption.
The [Franco-Prussian] War is a sad damper on international science and his publishing plans.
Various arrangements concerning the publication of Descent. "It will cause men to prick up [their] ears – & to elevate their eyebrows." JM thinks he will venture to print 2500 copies.
Suggests CD tone down as possibly indelicate a passage on proportion of advances made by the two sexes in animals.
Cannot find the [indelicate] passage he referred to in last letter.
Various publication arrangements.
Sends table of sales [of Journal of researches]. 2000 copies sold since 1860.
Descent has gone to press for 2500 copies.
JM reports 1900 [advance] copies of Descent were taken at his annual sale,
and 340 copies of Origin [5th ed.] were sold.
Sheets for Dutch publisher will be sent to CD immediately. JM cautions against possibility that Dutch edition will anticipate the English.
Bound copies [of Descent] have been dispatched to CD.
Robert Cooke, JM’s cousin and partner, has been nominated for Athenaeum; asks CD’s support.
Begs CD not to permit any notice by F. P. Cobbe to appear until after next week.