Bidspirit auction | [SCIENCE AND MEDICINE] - Physical,

[SCIENCE AND MEDICINE] - Physical, sexual, and natural religion in the time of Queen Victoria. - DRYSDALE George - Very rare and interesting autograph letter signed, dated “London April 27/81” by the British physician freethinker and advocate of contraception, city treasurer and tory leader on Edinburgh council. He was brother of Charles Robert Drysdale (founder of the Malthusian League in 1877). Drysdale is best known for his book The Elements of Social Science, which received widespread attention throughout Europe , first published anonymously in 1854. The book later went into 35 editions, was translated into several languages, and sold around 100,000 copies. Drysdale addresses a gentleman: “...Many thanks for your kindness in sending me the copies of your new pamphlet which seems to me most excellent. I think it is remarkably well put and will do a great deal of good, if, as I hope and believe, it has a large sale. I have sent the other copies as you directed to the Malthusian League. By this port I send you a copy of the English “Elements” which I am happy that you wish to have, andI have also enclosed a few pages of “State Remedies for Poverty”, to which you allude in your letter (...) it was reviewed in an early number of the ‘Malthusian’ and Dr. [Charles] Drysdale has warmly advocated the same view. As putting it forward I wished just that a question of such great importance should be thought over and discussed for of course there is no likelihood of its becoming a practical question for along time...”. 4 pp. In-8.