VIREY (Julien-Joseph). - Lot 289

VIREY (Julien-Joseph). French scientist, naturalist and physician. 1775-1846. Member of the Académie royale de médecine and author of numerous works on natural philosophy and the history of science. L.A.S. "J. J. Virey" to Julia Fontenelle. Paris, March 18, 1824. 3 pages in-4 with autograph address on verso. Interesting letter of scientific and philosophical polemic addressed to the Breton chemist and physician Julia Fontenelle, in which Virey protests against accusations of materialism made against him in connection with an article devoted to Gmelin's organic chemistry. He explains that he had to write to the editors of the Revue médicale to respond to the published attacks: "I had to do so all the more because they accuse me of putting forward dangerous opinions, especially in moral terms, no less than those of materialism, which I repudiate." Virey also deplores the attacks relayed by L'Étoile, a semi-official newspaper: "You see that it is no longer possible to remain silent in this respect, and the frequent attacks of a semi-official newspaper probably carry some authority..." He vigorously asserts his intellectual independence and freedom of philosophical discussion: "As for me, I shall always be very far from seeking any other support for my opinions than the fullest freedom of philosophical discussion..." The letter closes with a request to Fontenelle to enlighten the magazine's editors about his true thinking. A very fine set, reflecting the scientific, philosophical and medical debates of the Restoration, at a time when materialism and natural philosophy were hotly debated in French scholarly circles.