Ɛpsilon

From C.-F. Reinwald1   17 January 1874

Paris

le 17 Janvier 1874.

A Charles Darwin Esq | Down Beckenham Kent

Cher Monsieur

Nous vous envoyons aujourdhui par la Poste sous bande un exemplaire de la traduction des Emotions, qui a enfin pu voir le jour. Vous jugerez vous-même de l’exécution de cette traduction qui se met parfaitement à la suite de vos autres ouvrages que nous avons eu l’honneur de publier.2

Pour engager des traducteurs capables et habiles nous avons été obligés de nous soumettre à des exigeances plus ou moins grandes et subir des retards considérables dans l’achèvement du livre.3

Nous publierons également la semaine prochaine la 2e édition de la Descendance de l’Homme, revue et corrigée par M E. Barbier. Nous vous envoy⁠⟨⁠ons⁠⟩⁠ un exemplaire des 2 volumes par un de nos correspondants et nous vous ferons alors le paiement convenu entre nous pour le droit d’auteur sur cette deuxième édition.4 Il va sans dire que nous nous mettons a votre disposition pour les exemplaires des deux ouvrages que vous voudrez bien recevoir vous même, ou faire déposer ou envoyer en votre nom à quelques personnes en France ou à l’étranger

Veuillez bien agréer en attendant, cher Monsieur, l’expression de notre reconnaissance et de tous | nos sentiments de dévouement | C Reinwald & C

1
For a translation of this letter, see Appendix I.
2
CD’s copy of the French translation of Expression (Pozzi and Benoît trans. 1874) is in the Darwin Library–Down. Reinwald had also published French editions of Origin (Moulinié trans. 1873), Variation (Moulinié trans. 1868), and Descent (Moulinié trans. 1872).
3
Samuel Jean Pozzi had been hired by Reinwald to take over translating Expression when ill health forced Jean Jacques Moulinié to give up the job. In order to meet the deadline set by Reinwald for the publication, Pozzi was assisted by René Benoît from around May 1873 (see Correspondence vol. 21, letter from Samuel Jean Pozzi, 11 May 1873).
4
Edmond Barbier was employed by Reinwald in March 1873, after Moulinié’s death, in order to correct defects in the translation of Descent made by Moulinié (Moulinié trans. 1872). Reinwald had offered £40 for the author’s rights for the second French edition (Moulinié trans. 1873–4). See Correspondence vol. 21, letter from C. F. Reinwald, 4 March 1873. CD’s copy of Moulinié trans. 1872 has not been found.

From C.-F. Reinwald1   17 January 1874

Paris

17 January 1874.

Charles Darwin Esq | Down Beckenham Kent

Dear Sir

We are today sending by Book Post a copy of the translation of Emotions, which has finally seen the light of day.2 You will judge for yourself concerning the execution of this translation which is a perfect successor to the other works of yours which we have had the honour of publishing.

In order to engage capable and skilled translators, we were obliged to submit to greater or lesser demands and to undergo considerable delays in completing the book.3

Next week, we shall also be publishing the 2nd edition of the Descent of Man, revised and corrected by Mr E. Barbier. We shall send you a copy of the 2 volumes via one of our correspondents and shall then make the payment agreed between ourselves for the author’s rights over this second edition.4 It goes without saying that we are at your disposal for copies of both works that you would like to receive yourself, or to have given or sent in your name to various people in France or abroad

Meanwhile we remain, Dear Sir, | yours most obediently | C Reinwald & C

1
For a transcription of this letter in its original French, see Transcript.
2
CD’s copy of the French translation of Expression (Pozzi and Benoît trans. 1874) is in the Darwin Library–Down. Reinwald had also published French editions of Origin (Moulinié trans. 1873), Variation (Moulinié trans. 1868), and Descent (Moulinié trans. 1872).
3
Samuel Jean Pozzi had been hired by Reinwald to take over translating Expression when ill health forced Jean Jacques Moulinié to give up the job. In order to meet the deadline set by Reinwald for the publication, Pozzi was assisted by René Benoît from around May 1873 (see Correspondence vol. 21, letter from Samuel Jean Pozzi, 11 May 1873).
4
Edmond Barbier was employed by Reinwald in March 1873, after Moulinié’s death, in order to correct defects in the translation of Descent made by Moulinié (Moulinié trans. 1872). Reinwald had offered £40 for the author’s rights for the second French edition (Moulinié trans. 1873–4). See Correspondence vol. 21, letter from C. F. Reinwald, 4 March 1873. CD’s copy of Moulinié trans. 1872 has not been found.

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-9245,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-9245