Charles Darwin Seeks to Become Familiar With an Opponent’s Theories, So That He Might Better Defend His Theories

Lionel Smith Beale was a physician and zoologist who became Professor of Physiology and General and Morbid Anatomy at King’s College. In 1857 Beale was the founding editor of “Archives of Medicine.” He was promoted to Professor of the Principle and Practice of Medicine after that. Beale was a leading proponent of what he called the scientific method in medicine. Beale also pioneered differential staining. From observing the differences in the way in which active, living organisms responded to staining compared with nonliving organisms, he concluded that the nucleus must hold the “bioplasm”, or the essence of life. Beale, a strong-willed and independent figure, proposed a unique terminology, insisting upon an absolute distinction between what he called “germinal matter” (essentially equivalent to protoplasm) and “formed matter” (all other tissue constituents). Germinal matter was the living substance; formed matter had ceased to live. He wrote many books, including “Protoplasm: Or Life, Force, and Matter” in 1870 and “Bioplasm: An Introduction to the Study of Physiology & Medicine” in 1872. His book Protoplasm was a polemical work in which he asserted that a vital force was necessary for life. Generally regarded as the defender of religion and morality against the inroads of the scientific heresy, he wrote often, especially near the end of his life, on religious and moral considerations.

Beale was skeptical about Darwinism, and launched a famous attack on Charles Darwin’s strong supporter, T. H. Huxley.

The year 1876 started out with Darwin working on the first draft of his book on the cross- and self-fertilization of plants. He was also finishing work on the second edition of Orchids, even as he checked the page-proofs of Cross and self-fertilization.

The Linnean Society is the world’s oldest society devoted to natural history. Its building was the setting, in 1858, for the first reading of papers by Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace that outlined the theory of evolution by natural selection – a set of ideas that have since transformed our understanding of the natural world and humanity’s place in it. The society shares a building called Burlington House with some other organizations, such as the Geological Society and the Royal Astronomical Society.

Darwin was clearly anxious to become familiar with Beale’s works so he could critique them in the publications he was working on. He wrote to get copies of the Beale books. Autograph letter signed, on his personal Down House note card, Beckenham, postmarked July 29, 1876, to the librarian at the Royal Society in Burlington House. “Please be so good as to send me Dr. Beale’s works “Bioplasm” & also “Protoplasm.”

Thus would Darwin use Beale’s beliefs to defend and protect his (Darwin’s) theories and reputation. This our first ever book order from Darwin to show what he was reading, as well as giving an insight into how he used his opponents’ work against them.