From John Murray   6 August [1870]1

50, Albermarle St. | W.

Augt 6

My Dear Sir

I will write to Messrs Clowes to prepare them for the receipt of your MS. directly from you, & I will desire them to give you a written assurance that the Printing shall proceed uninterruptedly usque ad finem—2 I hope at least you may not suffer on the score of health during its progress. Alas this horrid War is a sad damper to Literature & Science. Until the Thundercloud has passed I shall publish little.3

My Dear Sir | Yours very faithfully | John Murray

Ch. Darwin Esqr

1
The year is established by the relationship between this letter and the letter to Mr Dorrell, 9 August 1870.
2
Murray refers to the printers William Clowes & Sons and to Descent. Usque ad finem: up to the end (Latin).
3
The Franco-Prussian war had begun on 19 July 1870 (Wawro 2003, p. 65). Descent was published on 24 February 1871 (see ‘Journal’ (Appendix II)).

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-7295,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-7295