To R. F. Cooke   10 April 1881

My dear Sir,

Please to read the accompanying note to Mess^rs Clowes¹   The book will consist of 7 chapters, and will extend, as I have roughly computed to between 260 and 280 pp²   I do not care whether it is published by you on commission or on our former terms of $\frac{2}{3}$ profits   I cannot even conjecture whether 200 or 2000 copies will be sold. Therefore M^r Murray must form his own judgment; and I think that he or your reader can judge to a certain extent by reading the short introduction and the table of contents to each chapter.³ But unless M^r Murray can make up his mind in a day, I wish to publish on commission, so that no time may be lost before the M.S. is in Mess^rs Clowes’ hands. You will see in my note to them why I am in such a hurry.

Please to let me hear what you decide, and believe me | my dear Sir, | Yours sincerely | Charles Darwin