1/8 THE WRITING OF THE 'ORIGIN OF SPECIES.' [1859. 



C. Darwin to J. Murray. 



Ilkley, Yorkshire [1859]. 



MY DEAR SIR, I have received your kind note and the 

 copy ; I am infinitely pleased and proud at the appearance of 

 my child. 



I quite agree to all you propose about price. But you are 

 really too generous about the, to me, scandalously heavy 

 corrections. Are you not acting unfairly towards yourself? 

 Would it not be better at least to share the 72 8s. ? I shall 

 be fully satisfied, for I had no business to send, though quite 

 unintentionally and unexpectedly, such badly composed MS. 

 to the printers. 



Thank you for your kind offer to distribute the copies to 

 my friends and assisters as soon as possible. Do not trouble 

 yourself much about the foreigners, as Messrs. Williams and 

 Norgate have most kindly offered to do their best, and they 

 are accustomed to send to all parts of the world. 



I will pay for my copies whenever you like. I am so glad 

 that you were so good as to undertake the publication of my 

 book. 



My dear Sir, yours very sincerely, 



CHARLES DARWIN. 



P.S. Please do not forget to let me hear about two days 

 before the copies are distributed. 



I do not know when I shall leave this place, certainly not 

 for several weeks. Whenever I am in London I will call 

 on you. 



