Three hundred copies of Erasmus Darwin remain from the 1000 printed. Demand is small.

Should 250 copies of Forms of flowers be printed before type is distributed?

His family shake heads in dismal manner at his proposed title for his MS: "The Circumnutating Movements of Plants". Makes several other suggestions [none of which was adopted].

His publishers are as puzzled as CD about what the title of his new book [Movement in plants] should be. Sends a tentative one in proof [missing].

Matters related to Climbing plants

and reprint [1880] of Forms of flowers.

Movement in plants will be 600 pages. Does CD wish to publish at own expense or on the usual terms with Murray? Estimates expense of printing and possible profit.

CD had intended to pay costs of publishing Movement in plants because he did not think it fair that Murray should risk publishing a purely scientific work. He would certainly prefer publishing on the usual terms if JM decided to do so. The book contains much new and curious matter, but there are very few persons in England interested in physiological botany.

RC estimates that 1000 copies of Movement in plants if sold at 14s would produce a profit of £6. Might more be printed, or the price raised?

CD will take the risk and the loss of Movement in plants on his own shoulders. He will have 1000 copies printed and, on RC’s advice, will charge 15s.

Has CD made arrangements with D. Appleton for Movement in plants? CD’s instructions about the index have been forwarded.

C. Reinwald wishes to publish a French translation [of Movement in plants] but is doubtful on account of cost. CD wants to supply him with stereotypes of the 195 cuts at prime cost.

Cost of electrotypes from the woodcuts [in Movement in plants] for French and German editions. Suggests CD charge more than actual cost in order to repay his expenses.

CD promised Reinwald the clichés [for Movement in plants] at cost, so he is to be charged £10. Eduard Koch should be charged £25, since CD’s books sell well in Germany – but Koch must not know the French have them for £10.

If every copy [of Movement in plants] is sold at 15s, CD will lose about £50.

Six hundred copies of Movement in plants were wanted [at Murray’s annual sale] – a good start.

Thanks RC for telling him about sale of 600 copies [of Movement in plants]. He had expected less, so loss will not be as heavy as he feared. Asks whether he should not have 250 more copies printed and what it would cost to have the type kept up.

Instructions for presentation copies.

The index is the worst ever published.

Movement in plants needs only the index. Distressed by CD’s dissatisfaction with the indexer.

Eight hundred copies have now been sold. Type will be kept up.

Decision on printing additional copies should await reviews.

Murray’s must reprint Descent. Does CD want to make any corrections in the plates?

Likes appearance [of Movement in plants].

The Times review should sell a few more copies.

Thanks Murray for present of volumes by Charles St John [A tour in Sutherlandshire, 2 vols. (1849?)].

Five hundred more copies of Movement in plants must be printed immediately. Asks CD to send any corrections to printer.

Asks for quick decision on publication [of Earthworms]. Does not care whether it is published on commission or on usual terms, but wants it published in a hurry. Cannot guess at sales.