Summary

Has received a letter from Carl Vogt, expressing his readiness to translate Descent at the request of the publisher Franz Anton Ricker

Summary

Carl Vogt has written that JVC is no longer a professor at Leipzig. Since this circumstance would provide more time to JVC for translation, Vogt withdraws his offer to translate [Descent]. CD asks JVC to accept the right to translate and to negotiate for best terms with whatever publisher he chooses.

Summary

Glad to hear the news about the professorship was partly erroneous, but still wishes JVC to have the rights to translate [Descent]. Has written to Herr Koch [of Schweizerbart], but not in such a way as to commit JVC to publish with him.

Summary

Encloses a few additions [missing] for new [4th] German edition of Origin

and a new application to publish translation of [Descent].

Summary

Has just sent MS of Descent to printers. Recognises that [because of Franco-Prussian War] the publisher will have given up idea of a German translation.

Though the war is a misfortune for science, CD rejoices at the wonderful success of Germany; has met no one who does not share this feeling.

Summary

Sympathetic to JVC’s views on Franco-Prussian war [see 7332].

Astonished at JVC’s readiness to begin work. Will send sheets as soon as possible. Has asked Murray to charge for stereotypes of 64 woodblocks at cost. JVC must make his own agreement with publisher.

Summary

Sends first four sheets [of Descent]. Murray charges £14 for the 64 stereotypes.

Cannot supply copies of woodcuts from Brehm’s Illustrirtes Thierleben [1864–9]. Hopes JVC’s publisher will be able to arrange to include them.

Summary

Thanks JVC for his corrections. Will send other errata. Hopes to send remainder of vol. 2 [of Descent] in a fortnight.

Summary

Hopes German edition [of Descent] has not yet been printed because he has fallen into a most serious blunder [about sexual selection never acting on the young] on pp. 297–9 of vol. 1.

Summary

Corrections for Descent. Has sold 6500 copies in England.

Has finished rough draft of Expression, but will put it aside for the summer.

Will refresh himself with some curious observations on the response of plants to certain stimuli.

Summary

Thanks JVC for corrections for Descent. Index, which is too full, was hurried at the end.

Summary

Glad to hear of new German edition of Origin. He is revising the English edition, adding a new chapter of "Answers".

No new edition of Descent has appeared.

Would be glad to see a new translation of the Journal of researches, which he revised in 1845.

Comments on white colour of sea-birds.

Summary

CD offers to mark corrected passages in sheets of 6th edition of Origin.

Discusses question of hybrids between goats and sheep, on which H. von Nathusius has cast doubt in his recent Viehzucht [1872]. CD gives several references for a contrary view.

Asks JVC to inquire about HvN’s assertion that castrated rams have no horns.

Summary

Sends sheets [of the 6th ed. of Origin].

Thanks JVC for his letter about the sheep.

Summary

CD sends some sheets [of 6th ed. of Origin]. Informs JVC that he is having it stereotyped, so he can never again make any serious alterations. "The little strength left to me shall be employed on new works."

Summary

Will send second proofs of Expression.

Glad JVC has finished translating Origin.

Assures him that Mivart’s book [On the genesis of species (1871)] has produced a great effect in England and America. CD has discussed incipient structures at some length because it enabled him to give many cases of gradation.

Asks JVC to note that he does not vouch for Expression’s being worth translating.

Summary

Has sent sheets of Expression.

Summary

Thanks JVC for his History of zoology [Geschichte der Zoologie bis auf Joh. Müller und Charl. Darwin (1872)]. Considers the title one of the greatest honours ever paid him.

Reports on foreign orders for the heliotype plates of Expression.

Summary

Will consider JVC’s comments on Expression when he prepares a new edition.

Summary

Thanks JVC for correcting his blunder on spelling of "Arrotino" [see Expression, p. 184]. "No Frenchman has a greater tendency to spell all proper names wrongly than I have."