1792

Thomas Beddoes to Davies Giddy, 11 April 1792

Dear Giddy

Browne’s virulent opposition arises from interested motives sufficiently mean. It is not the only instance one has seen of the blessed effects of the constitution of our H. of Commons <I mean the mode of election>. Nor is it the only instance where specious manners conceal a narrow mind from the dim eye of the vulgar of all denominations. Necessity has kept me here – Necessity to be sure is one of those vague terms which make up to many people the deficiency of ideas, but it is not worth while to detain you by unfolding the several circumstances that I comprehend under it. Perhaps when you become acquainted with them, you may shake your locks in compassion mixed with a little scorn –

Next term I intend to read publicly the papers I have drawn up on the natural history of fossils. I wish to lay myself under the necessity of <a carefully> reflecting them all over once more – Then perhaps I may print them – perhaps they may give a popular & not altogether a superficial view of Hutton’s subterranean system with many additional proofs, elucidations & applications.

I am under great trepidation for a most valuable box of specimens from Mr Mills who is a warm advocate for my [xxxx] system of granite & Basaltes & therefore an excellent mineralist – Will you enquire if any box be arrived lately for me from Birmingham immediately & from Macclesfield ultimately – & inform <me> of the result of your enquiries.

My sister makes a most rapid progress in Botany – I expected it as she is abundantly quick & was always fond of flowers – she will certainly be indebted to you for all the pleasure the study may afford her – I sh^d not have undertaken to teach her but for so good an example –

I begin to fear that the Constituent Assembly did not <either> solve the great political problem <or approximate to a solution near enough for practice> viz. to establish a system of subordination among the agents of the executive power with^t corrupting them by bribery & dependence. The minsters have not sufficient authority over the inferior agents.

Sadler made trial of his new engine lately – I only know for certain that he, his son James & all the workmen got drunk, so I suppose he thought it a joyful occasion. I am anxious to hear from good authority what was the real result –

Yours

T. Beddoes

11 April
Shifnal

I wrote you a long letter since you must have left Tredrea.

I am now sorry that I took possession of your Juge de Paix at Cooke’s; I expected certainly that <to be able to send it by> Reynolds’s Engineer who has been setting out into Cornwall for some months & is not gone yet – or at least that Cooke w^d as I directed procure another by the time you come to Oxford –

Address: Davies Giddy Esq^re / Pembroke College / Oxford
Endorsement: Doctor Beddoes / 1792 / April the 11^th
Stamped: SHEFNAL
MS: Cornish Archives MS DG 41/12