Summary

Will order the first set of casts from Murray.

Thanks CD for a book for his wife from the Royal Society Library.

His brother [Alexander] is delighted at being referred to in CD’s work [Descent 1: 205].

Summary

Leaving England.

Asks CD to send four sheets [of Descent proofs].

Summary

CD is sorry proof-sheets were lost; hopes clean sheets will have arrived.

Summary

On whether to make woodcuts for Variation in Russia or use Murray’s stereotypes. He has similar advance publication agreements with Carl Vogt, E. A. Rossmässler and Theodor Billroth.

The Russian version of Origin is translated from Bronn’s German edition.

Summary

Forwards Alexander Kovalevsky’s letter [7326] with the information on the vertebrate character of ascidian larvae.

Summary

CD cannot omit mention of Wilhelm Wundt’s Thierseele [Vorlesungen über die Menschen und Thierseele (1863)] in his book.

Murray could control the number of copies of translation of Expression sold in Russia by the number of heliotypes he will supply.

Summary

Interested in W. Hepworth Dixon’s Free Russia, but does not know "whether he is to be trusted".

VOK’s hard work in palaeontology will prepare him for future original investigations.

Summary

The proofs CD sent seem to have been lost in the post. Asks him to send another set by ordinary letter post.

Summary

Talks of his attempts to describe the course of descent for a part of the animal kingdom, and thanks CD for his help and support.

Summary

Sends proof-sheets [of Expression].

Is unwell and must stop work and leave home for a time.

Summary

Thanks for Cirripedia. Sorry CD has had to buy the books.

Summary

VOK’s paper ["Osteology of Hyopotamidae", Proc. R. Soc. Lond. 21 (1872–3): 147–65] appears a very valuable one.

Discusses work of VOK’s brother [Alexander] on Sagitta and the ascidians.

Summary

Sends a sheet of proofs. Will hold four others until he hears from VOK, because of expensive postage. Thinks illustrating Russian translation [of Variation] with woodcuts from A. E. Brehm’s work [Illustrirtes Thierleben, 4 vols. (1864–7)] is an excellent idea.

Summary

Thanks VOK for sending F. Körte’s book [Die Streich-, Zug- oder Wander-Heuschrecke (1828)]. The passage CD wrote about [see 7735] must occur in the second edition. If VOK ever comes upon the 1829 edition, it would be of use to him.

Agrees that the Versailles army has been savagely brutal [in siege of Paris], but thinks the "Communists [Communards] have made themselves everlastingly infamous".

Summary

CD has sent some revised proof-sheets and ordered the stereotypes [for Russian translation of Variation]. First volume is dull, but he hopes second is more interesting.

Summary

Repeats details of his previous letter [5537] as he was unsure whether CD received it.

Summary

Wishes to dedicate his memoir ["Monographie der Gattung Anthracotherium", Paleontographica 22 (1876): 131–347] to CD as founder of evolutionary theory.

Summary

Plans to visit Down in a week.

Summary

Alexander [Kovalevsky] is intent on assisting Russian publication of Expression. Sends estimates of costs and profits. At 7s 6d per copy a net profit of £150–200 is expected.

Wilhelm Wundt [Menschen und Thierseele (1863)] probably of no use.

Summary

Sends sheets with alterations to be made [in Russian translation of Variation]. VOK should consider adding to the title-page that CD is a Corresponding Member of the Imperial Academy of Sciences (St Petersburg).