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Darwin Correspondence Project

To John Murray   30 [January 1860]1

Down Bromley Kent

30th

My dear Sir

I am really sorry to trouble you so often; but it has this moment occurred to me that it would be a far easier & cheaper plan to give me one (or at most two) pages of additional Preface, in which I could state two or three important errors, which further examination of species referred to in text has led me to detect.2 What do you say to this? Is the present Preface stereotyped; if not I should rather like to leave out one sentence, but it is unimportant.

The shabbiest appearance in whole Book is Table of Contents in such small type,—not that I care about it.—3

My dear Sir | Yours very sincerely | C. Darwin

Footnotes

Dated by the relationship to the letter to John Murray, 29 January [1860].
The new issue of Journal of researches (1860) included a ‘Postscript’ to the original preface, in which CD corrected a few errors. See Journal of researches (1860), p. vii.
The table of contents was reset in larger type for the new printing.

Bibliography

Journal of researches (1860): Journal of researches into the natural history and geology of the countries visited during the voyage of HMS Beagle around the world, under the command of Capt. FitzRoy RN. By Charles Darwin. Reprint edition. London: John Murray. 1860.

Summary

Suggests it would be easier and cheaper if he were given one or two pages in preface [to Journal of researches] for two or three important errors. Would like to take out one sentence if present preface is not stereotyped. Table of contents is shabby.

Letter details

Letter no.
DCP-LETT-2616
From
Charles Robert Darwin
To
John Murray
Sent from
Down
Source of text
National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms.42152 ff.92–93)
Physical description
ALS 2pp

Please cite as

Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 2616,” accessed on 28 March 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-2616.xml

Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 8

letter