Sir,

I have to-day received an answer from my father, who is much obliged for your two letters.¹ He wrote to Mr. Schweizerbart at once after receiving the first one, but did not get an answer; it is plain, therefore, that Mr. Schweizerbart’s proposal to you was only made in consequence of my father’s letter, a translation of which I take the liberty to enclose.²

Neither my father nor I can pretend to judge, whether Prof. Geinitz is the right man to correct & revise the new edition; but I do not think it is doing him any wrong to say, that he has never before made himself thoroughly acquainted with your theory & under those circumstances it is a great question, whether the new edition will be an improvement on the preceding ones.³

A translation made by a good naturalist under Dr. Rolle’s superintendance would, no doubt, propagate your ideas more correctly in Germany & would prevent your being misunderstood by German scientific men, which is now only too often the case.⁴ In corroboration of this allow me to quote an article by Jurgen Bona Meyer, who is considered an eminent philosopher, in the last number of the “Preussische Jahrbücher” about “Darwin’s theory” from Bronn’s translation.⁵ He certainly would have judged more favourably, if a more correct translation had been accessible to him.

Considering all this, it would perhaps be the best if more than one translation were published with your consent. A work of such vast importance should not be treated like every day publications. But, of course, as to that, you are the best judge. In case your final decision has already been taken, my father would be much obliged for your permission to publish the additions to the 8^th English edition of “the Origin etc”.⁶

He also desires me to ask you, whether you have published anything besides the following works:

Fertilizing of Foreign Orchids by Insects.

Geological Observations⁷

Natural History & Geography of H.M.S. Beagle⁸

Origin of Species

Researches into Natural History & Geology.

Observations on Volcanic Islands⁹

Voyage of a Naturalist round the World¹⁰

Zoology of the Voyage of H.M.S. Beagle.¹¹

An answer at your early convenience will much oblige yours, dear Sir, most respectfully | R. Suchsland.