To John Murray   23 September [1871]1

Down, | Beckenham, Kent.

Sept. 23d

My dear Sir

I have forwarded Kingsley’s letter to Chauncey Wright,—no doubt about his pamphlet.2 I have fd. address (viz Macmillan & Co) for the J. of Anat. & Phys. & have myself forwarded copy.—3 I shd. like a copy sent to the Medical & Chirurgical Review, if not already sent.—4

I have been so unwell for 6 weeks, that I could do absolutely nothing, & this has delayed the new Edit. of origin, more especially as I have found much to correct.5

It will be impossible for me to get more than a few chapters printed off before your sale; & I could not do this unless Clowes6 could set up & print off quickly, when I am ready with the first half of book, which has been gone carefully over, but must be gone over again— A new chapter (Ch. 7.) cost me much labour & is not yet finished.7 Perhaps sometime you will let me hear what you think on this head.—

Yours very sincerely | Ch. Darwin

I am very sorry to hear about Murchison,—as kind a hearted a man, as ever lived.—8

1
The year is established by the relationship between this letter and the letter to John Murray, 22 September [1871].
3
CD refers to the Journal of Anatomy and Physiology (see letter from John Murray, 22 September [1871] and n. 2).
4
The British and Foreign Medico-Chirurgical Review recorded Darwinism (Wright 1871b) in the list of pamphlets received for review in their issue of January to April 1872 (p. 283).
5
CD refers to Origin 6th ed.; see letter to John Murray, 17 August [1871] and n. 7.
7
Chapter 7 of Origin 6th ed. was primarily devoted to CD’s replies to criticisms of the theory of natural selection.

Manuscript Alterations and Comments

1.1 doubt] interl
3.3 carefully] interl
3.4 gone over] ‘over’ interl
3.4 (Ch. 7.)] interl
3.4 cost] after del ‘has’
3.5 yet finished.] interl

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-7964,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-7964