CHAPTER VII. 



PUBLICATION OF THE ' DESCENT OF 



WORK ON ' EXPRESSION,' 



1871-1873. 



[THE last revise of the * Descent of Man ' was corrected on 

 January i5th, 1871, so that the book occupied him for about 

 three years. He wrote to Sir J. Hooker : " I finished the 

 last proofs of my book a few days ago, the work half-killed 

 me, and I have not the most remote idea whether the book 

 is worth publishing." 



He also wrote to Dr. Gray : 



" I have finished my book on the ' Descent of Man,' &c., 

 and its publication is delayed only by the Index : when pub- 

 lished, I will send you a copy, but I do not know that you 

 will care about it. Parts, as on the moral sense, will, I dare 

 sav > aggravate you, and if I hear from you, I shall probably 

 receive a few stabs from your polished stiletto of a pen." 



The book was published on February 24, 1871. 2500 

 copies were printed at first, and 5000 more before the end of 

 the year. My father notes that he received for this edition 

 1470. The letters given in the present chapter deal with 

 its reception, and also with the progress of the work on Ex- 

 pression. The letters are given, approximately, in chrono- 

 logical order, an arrangement which necessarily separates 

 letters of kindred subject-matter, but gives perhaps a truer 

 picture of the mingled interests and labours of my father's life. 



Nothing can give a better idea (in small compass) of the 



