From R. F. Cooke   18 August 1871

My dear Sir

In M^r. Murray’s absence, I beg to reply to your letter & say, that altho’ as a rule, we do not publish pamphlets, yet we have made exceptions & I am sure M^r Murray will not object to publishing the one you propose & therefore by all means forward the copy to Mess^rs. Clowes & Sons.¹

We have not printed any more of the “Descent of Man” for there was rather a lull in the sale & out of the last 2000 Copies, on June 30^th we had 825 copies left, so that we had given Messrs Clowes permission to distribute the type—but strange to say, a few days afterwards, a fresh demand sprung up & we have sold 200 copies & so I told Clowes to hold their hand for the present.²

I am sorry to hear you have been poorly but hope the rain of last night has both refreshed you & the country.

M^r Murray & family are in Scotland, but return the end of next week³

Yours faithfully | Rob^t. Cooke

Did you see the review of “Descent” in the Guardian?⁴

Cha^s. Darwin Esq