From T. M. Reade 18 February 1878
Park Corner, | Blundellsands, | Liverpool.
Feby 18th 1878
My dear Sir
In pursuing the line of thought commenced in my address on Geological Time I have been led to compose a paper Entitled “Limestone as a function of Geological Time”. In which I attempt to show that the argument against calculations of the age of the Earth from the rate of denudation taking place now, founded upon presumably greater denudation in early ages, loses much of its force when we investigate the rate of formation of limestone deposits— It is impossible here to give you an outline of my line of reasoning but one question arises out of it in which perhaps you can aid me if your time is not too much occupied. It is this— If the rate of formation of limestone beds was greater in early ages it would involve a greater abundance of life in the ocean either Forameniferal Coral or Molluscan.1 This again involves an additional supply of food suitable to such life— Can you imagine any conditions in which this extra food supply would be provided? If so what?
Although I am led by other considerations to the conclusion that this carbonate of lime producing life was not more abundant in nature in former periods than now I should very much like to hear if you have any suggestion to make on the food question—
My paper controverting Sir Wm. Thomsons views—ie calculations of the age of the Earth from the increase of heat downwards—will I expect shortly appear in the Geological Magazine as I have just corrected the proof for that Journal.2
I remain dear Sir | Yours faithfully | T. Mellard Reade
Chas Darwin Es LLD.
Footnotes
Bibliography
Burchfield, Joe D. 1990. Lord Kelvin and the age of the earth. With a new afterword. Chicago and London: University of Chicago Press.
Correspondence: The correspondence of Charles Darwin. Edited by Frederick Burkhardt et al. 29 vols to date. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 1985–.
Reade, Thomas Mellard. 1876. President’s address. [Read 10 October 1876.] Proceedings of the Liverpool Geological Society 3 (1874–78): 211–35.
Reade, Thomas Mellard. 1878. The age of the world as viewed by the geologist and the mathematician. Geological Magazine n.s. decade 2 vol. 5: 145–54.
Reade, Thomas Mellard. 1879. Limestone as an index of geological time. [Read 23 January 1879.] Proceedings of the Royal Society of London 28: 281–3.
Summary
TMR believes rate of limestone formation is same now as in past.
He expects his address [of 10 Oct 1876] on geological time [Proc. Liverpool Geol. Soc. 3 (1878): 211–35], which contradicts William Thomson’s view of the earth’s age, to appear soon.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-11365
- From
- Thomas Mellard Reade
- To
- Charles Robert Darwin
- Sent from
- Blundellsands
- Source of text
- DAR 176: 29
- Physical description
- ALS 4pp
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 11365,” accessed on 28 March 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-11365.xml