DARWIN AND HIS PUBLISHER.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 523, 2 June 1909, Page 4

DARWIN AND HIS PUBLISHER.

the April of-.the dealings of his father, who preceded him in .tbe..fomous.publishing...husiness .in Albomarlo owcot, with Charles Darwin.. When Darwin sent to tho'pubiisher'the v "orig'in/of .Species" ne wrote:— .■'>..' ■:■/.-...■•;

:." . B >W/bo.'conceit; 1 but-1 believe' the subject will interest the public, and I am suro that.the views aro'i original.:. If you think : otherwiso,.l must repeat my request that you ■will-freely reject/my work.- I shall be a little disappointed ;?I shall bb in'hb.way injured." .This note of modest confidence, says ilr !'Murray; is struck- in regard to all hia works np tq the last, and his publisher often quoted lt'.as;an.admirable; contrast to the young author, who, I'knbwsthat:his book is bound to make.a. seiisation'.'.at-01106, and sell by tens' of,thpusauds..Dnrwin was "astounded" .at the number,of copies sold. ■■•'" '.In Julys;'lß6o,:appeared" the now famous■ article m-the "Quarterly," hy Samuel Wilberforco, ,on the ".Origin of.Species"; and thei author's/first'comment on it was:— -: "Tho-articleon'tlie'Origin' seems to me very clever, and I'am quizzed splendidly. I really, believe that I enjoyed it as much as if' f had not been the unfortunate butt.' There is hardly any malice in it;' whichjs wonderful, considering/, tho ■'-.sourbe whence many of the .suggestions.'come.".. ;..:

v- Darwin was v alsb 'attacked in the. " Edinburgh." ."I am thrashed," he remarked; "in every possible'.way .to the full extent of my bitterest opposing"—hut -the : reputation of the "Origin'. 1 was firmly established. ■ '■Concerning -Darwin's work 'on "Earthworms." Mr.. Murray tells that one,day early in-1881 .he was with his father in""his room .when.-Mr. .Darwin..came>:.in> and, after some conversation,':-said: '"Mr. Murray; I have brought 'you-another book. : It represents a good many -years', of: hard - work, and has proved of,greiit ihterest'"to me, but'l doubt very much '■whether' it-will:' interest; the public, as the subject 'is not an attractive "one. It .13,. Earthworms.^.'-Of-this book 3079 copies were, sold; at. the dinner 'in November, ;and' •within a'year seven editions had been called for-'.; a -'.' •:.:'.:■::::•••'•■ ''•' .- "