Does not understand Reinwald [French publisher of Expression], who apparently intends an edition of only 500 copies. Sends first copy to CD.

Quandary caused by Heliotype Company’s failure to deliver enough plates for Expression because of a strike. Murray’s now has 7000 books and only 3000 sets of plates.

Murray’s must publish [Expression] tomorrow with only 4000 copies, because plates for 3000 additional copies have not yet been delivered. The trade and public will be dissatisfied. It may be advisable to get police to defend the house.

First edition of Expression nearly exhausted. Asks CD to send corrections to the printer for another issue, Murray thinks, of 2000.

Popular Edition [6th] of Origin has sold out 3000 copies. Asks CD whether he has found any errors that should be corrected.

Asks CD’s help in finding original woodcuts for "Voyage of a naturalist" [Journal of researches] for Reinwald.

In doubt about size of printing of the 2d edition of Descent. Profit on 2000 at 12s would be only £250.

Sends CD a statement of number of thousands of copies printed thus far [by Murray’s] of: Journal of researches (12), Origin (13), Descent (10), and Expression (9).

New edition of Descent just off the press. Murray feels price must be 9s instead of 12s, if it is to sell. This will reduce profit to almost nil.

Booksellers approve of [9s] price for 2d edition of Descent. 1350 copies were sold at annual sale.

A curious alteration in the reprint of Variation.

V. O. Kovalevsky has paid for the Expression plates.

Still has 400 copies of Chauncey Wright’s pamphlet

and 450 of Müller’s Facts and arguments for Darwin.

Replies to CD’s various questions and suggestions concerning publication plans for Insectivorous plants.

A set of electros of the woodcuts to Variation was sent to an Italian publisher in 1869, but no reply or payment has been made since then.

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.

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.

On publishing details of Variation [2d ed.].

CD mortified and annoyed to hear that RC has complained to Messrs Clowes of the extra expense because proofs for Climbing plants were put on wider paper at CD’s request.

Thanks RC for his kind note. It was only Climbing plants for which he wanted the proofs to have wide margins. Wishes he understood more about printing. It would be a great convenience to authors if exterior margins of proofs were broad.

Sends list for complimentary copies and suggests various arrangements related to publication of Climbing plants.

Thinks a revised edition of Orchids is needed.

Climbing plants has sold better than he expected.

Thinks another 1000 of Origin may have to be printed; he has no corrections to make.