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.

A second edition [issue] of Descent may be needed in short time; preparations should be made, and corrections sent to Clowes. Wallace, Mivart, and F. P. Cobbe have been sent copies of both volumes.

Descent publication costs, "including a heavy item of £126 for corrections" have been received. JM can now offer CD 600 guineas for the edition of 2500 copies.

First edition [issue] of Descent is exhausted. Asks CD to send corrections at once for a new printing of at least 1000 copies.

JM will print 2000 more copies of Descent as a second edition [issue]. Profits should be large as expenses are small.

Second "edition" [of Descent] published this day. Offers CD 800 guineas.

Mentions Wallace’s review in Academy.

Demand [for Descent] is such that JM thinks he will have to print 1000 more copies. Does not want to trouble CD for corrections.

Completes payment for 2d issue [of Descent]; has sold 1300 of the 2000 copies printed. Will probably print 2000 more for 3d issue.

Asks CD’s opinion of a request from Loescher of Turin. Thinks Loescher should have named his translator.

Does CD know the name of the Times reviewer?

Offers CD same payment for the 3d issue of Descent as for 2d.

Has bespoke four better drawings of birds in case a 4th issue is needed.

Vanity Fair wants CD’s portrait by Carlo Pellegrini ["Ape"].

Sends two bills [JM’s notes for payments due to CD] for £420 each for 3d issue of Descent.

On photographic illustrations [for Expression].

Estimates 7s 6d price for a cheap edition of Origin [6th].

The pamphlet [Chauncey Wright’s review of Mivart, see 7940] has been distributed to friends and to the press.