Thomas Beddoes to Davies Giddy, 31 July 1793
Dear Giddy
I wish I had not so long delayed answering your last letter for which I am much obliged to you. I now think upon consideration I may want an hundred pounds in the next or following year: but certainly shall not want more – I will beg the favour of you in that case to lend it me by 30, 40 & 50 £ at a time & will give you 3 or 4 months’ notice.
Your idea of my plan appearing empirical occurred to myself & of course I took much pains to guard agt it, in which from what I have seen, I have succeeded; & you perhaps when you read my letter to Dr. Darwin & his to me will agree with me in thinking that it cannot have produced any unfavourable impression upon the public mind. The medical people <here> wish, pretend to wish, me success & are upon a friendly footing with me. Withering speaks in the handsomest terms of my undertaking desired a patient to be sent to me & offers me facts in confirmation for a new edition of my Observations, of which, by the bye, I am told the copies are sold nearly all off. In that case the book has had a sale, almost unexampled among medical books in this country; it was published last November only –
Guillemarde is here on a journey into Cornwall. I think you wd like to see him; as however it is possible you may not, I beg to know whether you wd or not. All things else go on very well. If it is not a law to which all married men [xxxx] are doomed, that in time they shall grow tired of a woman, of whom they must see a great deal, I may hope to escape. The person, so much interested in not becoming indifferent to me, has often expressed her apprehensions on this head; & from her knowledge of the danger as well as her just sense & the variety of her talents, one may hope that she will avoid it, if it can be avoided – if you have any M.P. to whom I can direct a copy of my letter to Dr. Darwin <for you>, I will do it immediately & take the first opportunity of sending you a number.
Yours sincerely
Thomas Beddoes
31 July
If you cd procure the Medical Facts & Obsns. Vol. IV, you wd see a very curious fact & some speculations of mine, towards the more accurate determination of the influence of heat & cold.
Address: Davies Giddy, Esq / Tredrea / Marazion / Cornwall
Endorsement: Doctor Beddoes / 1793 / July the 31st
MS: Cornish Archives MS DG 41/7