To John Murray 28 November 1877
Summary
On publishing details for various CD books.
Has no corrections for new issue of Descent [2d ed.].
Questions amount of cheque for profits.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Murray |
Date: | 28 Nov 1877 |
Classmark: | National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms. 42152 ff. 293–6) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-11258 |
From John Murray 29 November [1877]
Summary
Answers CD’s query about payment made to him [for Descent and Forms of flowers] and explains the basis on which it was made. Because of CD’s wish to be paid before editions are sold off, profits must be estimated. If he were willing to accept annual statements of sales, payments based on them, and final accounting when all were sold, there would be no uncertainty. This is JM’s usual practice.
Author: | John Murray |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 29 Nov [1877] |
Classmark: | DAR 171: 497, DAR 210.11: 12 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-11259 |
To John Murray 30 November 1877
Summary
Thanks for accounts which make everything intelligible to him. Since he was glad to have Orchids published at one-half of profits for himself, he believes it would be very shabby to accept JM’s new offer of two-thirds profits. Thinks it would be fairer to both to change to JM’s usual practice with authors [i.e., annual statements of sales, payments based on them, and final accounting when all copies have been sold].
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Murray |
Date: | 30 Nov 1877 |
Classmark: | National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms. 42152 f. 299) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-11262 |
To John Murray 1 October [1878]
Summary
Encloses a cheque for £11.19.9. Will transmit £7.9.4 to Fritz Müller. Thanks for account of the sale of his books, which appears to be in a "lamentable state".
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Murray |
Date: | 1 Oct [1878] |
Classmark: | DAR 147: 176 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-11712A |
To John Murray 2 June 1879
Summary
Intends to publish a translation of Ernst Krause’s essay on Dr Erasmus Darwin, with a prefatory notice by himself. Asks JM to decide whether to publish it on commission or on usual two-thirds profit terms. CD incapable of judging chance of its selling.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Murray |
Date: | 2 June 1879 |
Classmark: | National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms. 42152 ff. 356–7) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-12078 |
From John Murray 3 June [1879]
Summary
Is well disposed toward publishing Krause’s essay on Dr Erasmus Darwin, particularly if CD undertakes to fill up its gaps. He thinks ED’s reputation is increasing.
Author: | John Murray |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 3 June [1879] |
Classmark: | DAR 92: B11 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-12080 |
From John Murray 3 September [1879]
Summary
Likes CD’s memoir of his grandfather and offers to publish 1000 copies at his own risk, giving half the profits to CD.
Author: | John Murray |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 3 Sept [1879] |
Classmark: | DAR 92: B12–13 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-12217 |
To John Murray 4 September 1879
Summary
Though not sanguine about sale [of Erasmus Darwin] it seems fair that if over 1500 copies are sold he should receive two-thirds profit. If JM does not agree, he would prefer publishing on commission or asking Macmillan if they will give him larger profits.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Murray |
Date: | 4 Sept 1879 |
Classmark: | National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms. 42152 ff. 358–9) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-12218 |
To John Murray 7 June [1849]
Summary
CD’s vexation at the serious printer’s error in his "Geology" [Collected papers 1: 227–50].
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Murray |
Date: | 7 June [1849] |
Classmark: | National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms.42153 ff.14–15) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-1244 |
To John Murray 12 June [1849]
Summary
Appreciates what Murray and the printer are doing to rectify the error [transposition of pages of text in "Geology"]. But if the responsible person will be fined heavily, CD would want to "make some present".
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Murray |
Date: | 12 June [1849] |
Classmark: | National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms.42153 ff.16–17) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-1245 |
To John Murray 9 June 1880
Summary
Asks JM to provide Quarterly Journal of Science with five woodcuts from Climbing plants to illustrate an article, based on that work, by Francis Darwin [see 12462].
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Murray |
Date: | 9 June 1880 |
Classmark: | National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms. 42152 ff. 368–9) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-12625 |
To John Murray 11 June 1880
Summary
Asks John Murray to allow R. F. Charles to quote Journal of researches passages in a school text-book [Relfe Brothers model reading-books … in prose and verse (1880–3)].
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Murray |
Date: | 11 June 1880 |
Classmark: | Private collection |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-12628F |
To John Murray 10 July 1880
Summary
Asks advice on size of printing for Movement in plants. Expects it to sell a few copies for some years. Asks price of paper and of printing of 250 copies. Sends instructions for the index.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Murray |
Date: | 10 July 1880 |
Classmark: | National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms. 42152 ff. 370–1) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-12651 |
To John Murray 21 January 1882
Summary
Thanks JM for copy of Quarterly Review, with article on his worm book [Henry Wace, "Darwin on earthworms", Q. Rev. 153 (1882): 179–202].
Writer will change his mind on evolution. CD cannot think of any young worker in biology who is not convinced of the truth of evolution, though many believe that natural selection has not done much.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Murray |
Date: | 21 Jan 1882 |
Classmark: | National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms. 42153 ff. 51–52) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-13632 |
To John Murray 24 July [1853]
Summary
Asks JM to forward letter [1525] to Francis Galton "the author of the very interesting volume" Murray recently published.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Murray |
Date: | 24 July [1853] |
Classmark: | DAR 249: 31 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-1524 |
To John Murray 31 March [1859]
Summary
CD has heard from Lyell that JM is inclined to publish his work on the origin of species. Will send some chapters as soon as copyist has finished. Sends list of 12 chapters. It will be a popular abstract of more than 20 years’ work. It ought to be popular with scientific and semi-scientific readers.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Murray |
Date: | 31 Mar [1859] |
Classmark: | National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms.42153 ff.12–13) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2441 |
From John Murray 1 April 1859
Summary
On the strength of CD’s details about his work on species and his knowledge of CD’s former publications, JM offers to publish [Origin] without seeing the MS.
Author: | John Murray |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 1 Apr 1859 |
Classmark: | National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms. 41913 p.32) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2443 |
To John Murray 2 April [1859]
Summary
Accepts JM’s terms for publication of Origin. If, on reading the MS, JM thinks it will not sell, CD frees him from the offer. Will send chapters soon so he can judge. Though some parts are dry and abstruse, CD thinks it will be interesting to "those who care for the curious problem of the origin of all animate forms".
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Murray |
Date: | 2 Apr [1859] |
Classmark: | National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms.42153 ff.18–19) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2445 |
To John Murray 5 April [1859]
Summary
Sends title and first three chapters [of Origin]. Thinks first chapter will interest the public and is sure views are original. If JM thinks otherwise, he should freely reject the work. Chapter 2 is dull and abstruse, chapter 3 is plain and interesting.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Murray |
Date: | 5 Apr [1859] |
Classmark: | National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms.42152 ff.35–35A) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2447 |
To John Murray 29 April [1859]
Summary
Will send first six chapters [of Origin] for the press. Sends data on size of MS and book. His "beau ideal" for type and size is Lyell’s Manual [of geology] 1st ed.
Important to his health to get the work printed quickly. Must leave home soon to stay for months at a water-cure establishment.
Asks printer to send a proof-sheet a day until he gets well ahead.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Murray |
Date: | 29 Apr [1859] |
Classmark: | National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms.42152 ff.38–39) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2455 |
Darwin, C. R. | (201) |
Murray, John (b) | (90) |
Murray, John (b) | (201) |
Darwin, C. R. | (90) |
John Murray | (1) |
Darwin, C. R. | |
Murray, John (b) | (291) |
John Murray | (1) |