From J. J. Moulinié 7 July 1871
Geneva
7 July 1871
My dear sir,
On receipt of your letter of 28th June last I wrote to my publisher to inform him of the important fact of the new edition of the Origin of Species you are going to give out; making it necessary to wait to finish the translation that it may be completed and conformed to the last original edition.1 In the beginning of August 1870 printing was stopped in Paris, the last good sheet was the 16th; the calculation of the two printings show that the translation is exactly as possible arrived to the middle point, where it is still.2 A few days ago I received a few new sheets first proof, which crossed my letter to Mr. Reinwald to inform him of the new edition, and the convenience of waiting for it. I just receive his answer, which agrees completely, consequently not a sheet more will be printed before corrected according to the future edition; the second half of the volume will thus be quite correct. As for the first, it will be easy by an appendix to insert with all details the additions and corrections of all kinds concerning it, including the six first chapters and of the seventh. This appendix may be put at the end of the volume, or perhaps as concerning only the seven first chapters, might be more conveniently placed after the seventh. I shall be happy to have your advice on this point, as well as on any other you might wish to see effectuated. We hope that the translation will follow as quickly as possible the new English edition, and not to lose time, I shall be happy if you can send me as soon as they are drawn, the sheets containing corrections to make.
I consider the delay caused by circumstances of the publication of the translation of Origin as a very fortunate thing for it, and as justifying a french Proverb “to something, misfortune may be good.”3
Mr. Reinwald has in hand the first volume of “Descendance” and I expect to receive shortly the proofs. The second volume is ready also, but I will see it once more over before I send it.4
Hoping this will find you in good health remind me kindly to the memory of Mrs. Darwin and your family,5 and believe me your’s most truly & devoted | J. J. Moulinie
23. Quai des Bergues.
Footnotes
Bibliography
Correspondence: The correspondence of Charles Darwin. Edited by Frederick Burkhardt et al. 29 vols to date. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 1985–.
Descent: The descent of man, and selection in relation to sex. By Charles Darwin. 2 vols. London: John Murray. 1871.
Origin: On the origin of species by means of natural selection, or the preservation of favoured races in the struggle for life. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1859.
Summary
JJM’s Origin translation is being held up so that it can conform to the 6th English edition.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-7853
- From
- Jean Jacques Moulinié
- To
- Charles Robert Darwin
- Sent from
- Geneva
- Source of text
- DAR 171: 276
- Physical description
- ALS 3pp
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 7853,” accessed on 29 November 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-7853.xml
Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 19