To John Murray   31 March [1859]

My dear Sir

I have heard with pleasure from Sir C. Lyell that you are inclined to publish my work on the Origin of Species; but that before deciding & offering any terms you require to see my M.S.—¹ My work is divided into 12 chapters, as you will see in appended table at end of this letter² The Introduction, & 3 first chapters are now in 3 copyists hands; & I hope to have them home in about 10 days. I defy anyone, not familiar with my handwriting & odd arrangements to make out my M.S. till fairly copied, Ch. IV will be ready for copyist in 2 or 3 days. Ch. V–IX are all fully written out, but not finally corrected or copied; & would be very difficult to decipher.— Ch. X is copied & is now in D^r. Hooker’s hands.—³ Ch XI is in copyist Hands. Ch XII, a short one, not even fully written out.—

Now you will see state of work: I could send 3 first chapters well copied in about 10 days, & Ch V–IX in the rough, (but I must retain one Ch. not to be losing time) & Ch. X & XI well copied: but I would advise you to wait till more chapters are well copied.— But, I will do, as far as I can, whatever you please; but the 3 first chapters & short Introduction cannot be sent till I get them back from copyists. At roughest calculation I think my M.S will make about 500 pages of type & size of Lyell’s Elements 1^st. Edition.—⁴

It is the result of more than 20 years work; but as here given, is only a popular abstract of a larger work on the same subject, without references to authorities & without long catalogues of facts on which my conclusions are based. The book ought to be popular with a large body of scientific & semi-scientific readers, as it bears on agriculture & history of our domestic productions & on whole field of Zoology, Botany & Geology.— I have done my best, but whether it will succeed I cannot say— I have been quite surprised at finding how much interested strangers & acquaintances have become with the subject. Only some small portions are at all abstruse.—

I hope to be ready for press early in May & shall then most earnestly wish to print at a rapid rate, for my health is much broken, & I want rest. I may add that I sh^d have to beg for 100 or 120 copies at Bookseller’s price to give to many persons who have aided me.

Pray excuse the length of this letter. I shall be pleased if you approve of my work, & will undertake its publication.—

Pray believe me | My dear Sir | Yours very sincerely | C. Darwin