To John Murray 3 January [1867]
Summary
Sorry about enormous size of Variation MS, but cannot shorten it now. If JM is afraid to publish, CD will consider agreement cancelled. Suggests he ask someone with judgment to read the MS. Has written concluding chapter on man. Whether it will be included depends on size of volume.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | John Murray |
| Date: | 3 Jan [1867] |
| Classmark: | National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms.42152 ff. 158–160) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5346 |
To John Murray 8 January [1867]
Summary
CD annoyed at large size of Variation. Suggests printing detailed parts in small type. JM can, of course, decline to publish altogether.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | John Murray |
| Date: | 8 Jan [1867] |
| Classmark: | National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms.42152 ff. 155–157) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5350 |
To John Murray 10 January [1867]
Summary
Relieved by JM’s note and by his agreement on type size. Is alarmed by what the verdict [on Variation] of JM’s friend will be. He is not a man of science. An unscientific reader would have condemned the Origin. An eminent semi-scientific man thought the Journal of researches not worth publishing.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | John Murray |
| Date: | 10 Jan [1867] |
| Classmark: | National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms.42152 f. 166) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5356 |
To John Murray 15 January [1867]
Summary
Approves of type [for Variation]. Pleased to hear from Hooker that he is not surprised that MS is big.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | John Murray |
| Date: | 15 Jan [1867] |
| Classmark: | National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms.42152 f. 161) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5363 |
To John Murray 27 January [1867]
Summary
Hopes JM’s friend will give his judgment [on Variation] soon; and urges JM to come to a decision about publishing. CD believes it will have "a fair sale".
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | John Murray |
| Date: | 27 Jan [1867] |
| Classmark: | National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms.42152 ff. 153–154) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5379 |
To John Murray 29 January [1867]
Summary
CD agrees to JM’s proposal of half-profits. Thinks it a mistake to print only 750 copies. The agreement on half-profit is for first edition only. CD estimates his book at a higher value than JM does.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | John Murray |
| Date: | 29 Jan [1867] |
| Classmark: | National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms.42152 ff. 162–163) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5382 |
To John Murray 31 January [1867]
Summary
Is convinced his chapter on man [for Variation] will excite plenty of attention and abuse, which he supposes is as good as praise for selling a book.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | John Murray |
| Date: | 31 Jan [1867] |
| Classmark: | National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms.42152 ff. 164–165) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5384 |
