Though not sanguine about sale [of Erasmus Darwin] it seems fair that if over 1500 copies are sold he should receive two-thirds profit. If JM does not agree, he would prefer publishing on commission or asking Macmillan if they will give him larger profits.

Pleased that JM will allow two-thirds profits [on Erasmus Darwin] for he wants Krause to receive some profit.

He and his son [Francis] are preparing a large botanical work [Movement in plants], dry as dust, which he must publish on commission. He will be lucky to lose only £100.

Final arrangements for publishing Erasmus Darwin. If he were publishing on commission he would have printed only 1000 copies.

Thinks W. P. Garrison’s book [extracts from Journal of researches for juvenile readers] would serve as an advertisement for the Journal.

Disappointed at sale of Erasmus Darwin.

Finds Academy contains valuable matter for his work.

Descent progresses slowly – will not be ready for press for several months.

MS of Descent, except last chapter, is ready to send to printer. Hopes the printer will be able to keep him steadily at work correcting proof. "It drives me mad to change from job to job."

Variation is a much better looking volume than Origin due to quality of paper and binding. Hopes JM will attend to this point in Descent. Printers have sent "splendid lot" of proofs.

Wants sheets [of Descent] for foreign editions. Asks JM to determine price to be charged for the stereotypes of 62 cuts. Dallas would be excellent for the index but must be "civilly warned" not to delay. Encloses memo on the index.

CD did not promise Appleton stereotypes of text [of Descent]; only of cuts.

Wishes to know which passage JM thought "coarse". Remembers only a quotation from John Hunter on courtship of female being required "to give her desires" [Descent 1: 273]. He fancied a quotation rendered the sentence less coarse.

Glad to hear Dallas will do index of Descent, but he needs keeping up to the mark. Agrees to a Dutch edition.

He agrees with his family that binding of Variation looks much better than Origin.

Asks JM to report the number of copies he has printed of Naturalist’s Voyage [Journal of researches].

Would like to hear results of JM’s November booksale.

Pleased at [advance] sale [of Descent]. Suggests 3000 copies be printed. Corrections are frightful and, CD fears, will not be done until end of year.

Asks what his profits on the reprints of Descent will be when half have been sold.

Good reviews in Saturday Review and Pall Mall Gazette;

contemptuous one as usual in Athenæum.

Pleased with sum the reprint [of Descent] has produced. Terms of payment accepted.

Thanks JM for Nonconformist [review of Descent, 32 (1871): 240–1].

Would like to see other out-of-way reviews – especially religious.

Other reviews favourable, including Wallace’s [see 7569], which is admirable.

Is astonished at sale [of Descent]. Will make no additions, but must correct a few misprints and errors [for third issue].

Has this day sent off corrections for new issue [of Descent]. Asks whether title-page may read "Sixth Thousand".

Amount received from 2d issue of Descent now stands at £840. Would be glad to have 2000 more copies printed because he wants time to collect information for a corrected edition.

Has no idea who wrote the Times review [of Descent]. Writer has no knowledge of science and "seems a windbag full of metaphysics & classics".

Detailed questions about illustrations for [forthcoming] Expression.

Asks whether Times review has hurt sales of Descent.

The type on specimen page of Origin [6th ed.] seems clear, but lines are close. The cost is the great point for a wide circulation.