From R. F. Cooke   30 July 1881

My dear Sir

I hasten to reply to your letter of this morning & to say that M^r Murray will publish as soon as possible your work, as you seem to wish it, as he only looked at the matter from a publisher’s point of view & knowing how dead a work falls at this late period of the season.¹ But you must still have a little patience, for the stereotypes must be made first, before we can print off copies for ourselves.

I think it will be requisite to acquaint Messrs. Appletons of your intentions.²

I will take care of the Presentation List.

Yours faithfully | Rob^t. Cooke

Cha^s. Darwin Esq

Mess^rs. Clowes have sent you the Index. Their house will be closed from now until Wednesday morning³