From J. J. Moulinié   5 November 1869

Dear sir,

On receipt of your letter,¹ I wrote to M^r. Reinwald, my french publisher, to inform him of the future publication of your new work, and at the same time to have his opinion on the question about the possibility of a new translation correct and complete of the last edition of the “Origin of species.”² On the first point, he is quite disposed to publish the translation of your work on Man, as soon as it will be ready.³ On the second, M^r. Reinwald would most gladly undertake also a fresh edition of the translation of the Origin, in the conditions that you desire, and with your consent, and believes that you have all rights to do so, “if you have not already formally transferred to another publisher, the right of translation for subsequent editions.”

He adds besides, that desirous to act with moderation and out of consideration for the interests of the first publisher and translator of the Origin, he is ready,—on an explicit authorisation of yours, to publish a new translation of the last english edition,⁴—to propose to them some reasonable transaction, and obtain their desistance of the rights they might possibly have. In case of refusal on their part, concludes M^r. Reinwald, he would proceed without hesitation, convinced that a thoroughly new translation, better than the former and containing the last corrections, would certainly be successfull, and supersede the others.

With such good dispositions, on the part of M^r. Reinwald, I hope that all material obstacles if any, may be removed, and will then, as far as it concerns me, most gladly contribute to the realization of your wish, in undertaking the translation of the “Origin”, which you so kindly propose to me.⁵

My best regards to M^rs Darwin and family, and believe me, dear Sir, your’s grateful and truly devoted | J. J. Moulinié

P.S. M^r. Reinwald’s direction is the following:⁶