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].

Asks JM for four copies of his Journal of researches [2d ed.] at wholesale price. Also asks for total number of copies sold.

Report on sales of Origin, Insectivorous plants, and Climbing plants.

Greatly pleased at sale [of Climbing plants].

Points out a discrepancy in their records of copies of Origin printed.

500 more copies of Insectivorous plants should last forever.

Sends cheques in payment on three of CD’s books.

Proposes to print 500 copies of Insectivorous plants before distributing the type.

Asks to be informed whenever more copies of his books are printed, as there may be errors to correct.

Asks how many copies of Origin have been printed "from the first". The number will be "a good puff" when listed in the new edition of Variation.

JM has printed 16250 copies of Origin since 1859.

Thanks for gift [of books requested in 1026]. Sale is a good deal more than he had anticipated.

At last, Expression is beginning to sell again.

Cooke has not yet decided on number of Variation [2d ed.] to print.

Asks JM for information on sales of his Journal of researches and to procure for him a copy of the American edition. He is curious to see if the part on slavery has been altered.

Is satisfied with sales of his books.

Did not expect Orchids to sell more than 600 or 700 copies.

Only bad item is Expression, which astonishes him, since it sells well in Germany.

Asks size of printing of Cross and self-fertilisation; thinks 1500 would be ample.

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.].

On publishing details for various CD books.

Has no corrections for new issue of Descent [2d ed.].

Questions amount of cheque for profits.

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.

Thanks for accounts which make everything intelligible to him. Since he was glad to have Orchids published at one-half of profits for himself, he believes it would be very shabby to accept JM’s new offer of two-thirds profits. Thinks it would be fairer to both to change to JM’s usual practice with authors [i.e., annual statements of sales, payments based on them, and final accounting when all copies have been sold].

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".

Intends to publish a translation of Ernst Krause’s essay on Dr Erasmus Darwin, with a prefatory notice by himself. Asks JM to decide whether to publish it on commission or on usual two-thirds profit terms. CD incapable of judging chance of its selling.

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.