From John Murray   23 February [1871]1

50, Albemarle St. | W.

Feby 23

Dear Mr Darwin

The Printers & other accounts connected with the production of your Book on the Descent of Man, having been received by me—including a heavy item of £126. for corrections, I am enabled to make you an offer   For the Edition of 2500—copies I am prepared to give you Six Hundred Guineas being—as far as I can calculate 23ds. of the clear produce.2

If this satisfies you, I will have the pleasure of sending you at once a Cheque for that amount

I am not without hope of a call from you3

I am My Dear Sir | Your faithful servant | John Murray

Chas Darwin Esqr

1
The year is established by the reference to Descent, which was published on 24 February 1871 (Freeman 1977).
2
CD recorded a payment from Murray of £630 on 2 March 1871 (CD’s Account books–banking account (Down House MS)).
3
CD was in London from 23 February to 2 March 1871 (CD’s ‘Journal’ (Appendix II)). See also letter to John Murray, 23 February 1871.

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-7507,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-7507