To John Murray   24 September [1861]

My dear Sir

I am very much obliged for your note & very liberal offer.—¹ I have had some qualms & fears. All that I can feel sure of is that the M.S. contains many new & curious facts & I am sure the Essay would have interested me, & will interest those who feel lively interest in the wonders of nature: but how far the Public will care for such minute details, I cannot at all tell. It is a bold experiment, & at worst, cannot entail much loss: as a certain amount of sale will, I think, be pretty certain.—² A large sale is out of the question. As far as I can judge generally the points which interest me, I find interest others; but I make the experiment with fear & trembling,—not for my own sake, but for yours.—

I do not see how I can improve enclosed title: if you alter it, please let me see alteration:—³

When the drawings are made on wood, I will communicate with you about their cutting, as I shall be then ready to print.—

With hearty thanks | Yours very sincerely | Ch. Darwin

I think this little volume will do good to the Origin, as it will show that I have worked hard at details, & it will, perhaps, serve [to] illustrate how natural History may be worked under the belief of the modification of Species.—

P.S. | Do you think of little Book with Cloth Back or Pamphlet in paper? I ask because if former, sh^d. you like an Orchis in Gold; for in that case I could get M^r Sowerby to draw one—for the woodcut, which I shall use will hardly do—⁴ Please let me have one line, if you wish for an ornament.—