466 THE 'EFFECTS OF CROSS- [1868. 



The following letters give the author's impression of his 

 own book.] 



C. Darwin to J. Murray. 



Down, September 16, 1876. 

 My dear Sir, — I have just received proofs in sheet of 

 five sheets, so you will have to decide soon how many copies 

 will have to be struck off. I do not know what to advise. 

 The greater part of the book is extremely dry, and the whole 

 on a special subject. Nevertheless, I am convinced that the 

 book is of value, and I am convinced that for many years 

 copies will be occasionally sold. Judging from the sale of 

 my former books, and from supposing that some persons will 

 purchase it to complete the set of my works, I would suggest 

 1500. But you must be guided by your larger experience. 

 I will only repeat that I am convinced the book is of some 

 permanent value. . . . 



C. Darwin to Victor Cams. 



Down, September 27, 1876. 



My dear Sir, — I sent by this morning's post the four 

 first perfect sheets of my new book, the title of which you 

 will see on the first page, and which will be published early 

 in November. 



I am sorry to say that it is only shorter by a few pages 

 than my ' Insectivorous Plants.' The whole is now in type, 

 though I have corrected finally only half the volume. You 

 will, therefore, rapidly receive the remainder. The book is 

 very dull. Chapters II. to VI., inclusive, are simply a record 

 of experiments. Nevertheless, I believe (though a man can 

 never judge his own books) that the book is valuable. You 

 will have to decide whether it is worth translating. I hope 

 so. It has cost me very great labour, and the results seem 

 to me remarkable and well established. 



If you translate it, you could easily get aid for Chapters 

 II. to VI., as there is here endless, but I have thought 



