Ɛpsilon

To John Murray   9 April [1870]1

Down Beckenham | Kent

Apr 9th

My dear Mr Murray

I had intended last month to write to thank you very much for sending me the Academy; but pray do not trouble yourself, as I take it in myself, & generally find valuable matter for my work.—2 I am steadily at work on my new book, but I do not suppose I shall be ready for press for several months;3 as my progress is always crawling half as far backwards as I advance forwards.—

Permit me to add how sincerely grieved I was some time ago to hear of your dreadful loss: I have lost children & know & can feel what the blow is.4

Believe me | Yours very sincerely | Ch. Darwin

1
The year is established by the reference to the Academy (see n. 2, below).
2
Murray was the publisher of the Academy; the first issue came out in October 1869 and included a notice of Descent (see letter from C. E. C. B. Appleton, 2 March [1870]).
3
CD refers to Descent.
4
Murray’s youngest son, Arthur, died of congestion of the lungs while at Eton in 1870 (Paston 1932, p. 149).

Manuscript Alterations and Comments

1.2 &] over ‘—’

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-7162,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-7162