My dear Sir

I received yesterday a letter from Prof. Asa Gray of U. States, offering to endeavour to make some arrangement for Reprint there of the Origin, with some share of profits, if possible for us.—² I have agreed, presuming that you have not made any arrangement; if you have I can stop it. So please inform me soon. In any case I am very anxious that our second Edition should be reprinted. I have told “Prof. Asa Gray, Cambridge Massachussetts U. States” that you would send him by Post at once as many clean sheets as are ready (& you can charge copy & postage to me) & remainder as soon as possible.— This would give him an advantage in making bargain for us.—

Please inform me by what channel you sent copy of the Book to him; as he says he has not received it.—³

Please, also, inform me whether you have any rule about number of copies which you give to author of second Edition, as perhaps I sh^d like a few.

I have returned every sheet to Printers on same day as received.—

I think I have got good scheme for larger work of three separate volumes with separate titles & indices for each but in addition with one general Title.—

My dear Sir | Yours very sincerely | Charles Darwin

With my confounded health I daresay it will be 2 years before the 1^st vol. of my larger work will be ready.