1794

Thomas Beddoes to Richard Beddoes, 2 April 1794

2 April 1794

Dear Sir

I wrote to my mother from Dublin. Next day I arrived at Edgeworthstown, where I found myself very welcome and Anna Edgeworth greatly improved. We shall be with you, I hope, in about 3 weeks I sh^d be exceedingly sorry not to find my sister at Shifnal & all my friends very well disposed to receive my Wife, as she will be then. It is impossible my sister sh^d not like her. I believe she has been always liked & esteemed by her relations: & really for a young person to leave an house where she has always lived happily & a county where her father has been a kind of king is a very serious step nor c^d anything hurt me so much as any sort of dislike or unkindness shewn to her by my relations. I have had opportunities of knowing her so thoroughly that I am certain of living happily with her, and this is what my mother and you sh^d principally wish for me. I think it more than probable that she will have a considerable addition to her fortune some time. But I marry her for her prudence her good sense and the sweetness of her disposition.

I think that this is the chance of there being any heir for the property in our family – I have thought it w^d go God knows where – as it is not likely I sh^d have married had I not met with A. E. – An ordinary woman, whatever might have been her portion I c^d not have borne.

I never told A. E. a word of the reasons I had to complain of many imprudent steps of yours. I never shall, for I love her too well to wound her mind with such recitals. And as you complied with my wishes about my marriage, I freely forgive you, in hopes that you will shew my mother some of that kindness, which I shall always feel it my duty, if not my inclination to shew my wife – What in the name of Heaven & Earth can a man mean by rendering unhappy his own family – If Hereafter has any punishment for sins, the murderer & robber ought to fare better than the bad husband or parent – & by this law I desire to be judged myself –

Pray get Jack a pepper-& -salt coloured jacket & waistcoat & make him decent not fine – For my sake, I know my dear Anna will shew you & my mother great kindness and attention – of you I only beg not to use any of those jokes which some people use to new-married women –

For the rest the more you talk to her, the better –
Yours affect^ly

Thomas Beddoes

Write me immediately after you receive this, a letter saying if my sister is come to direct to me at Richard Kirwan’s Esq. Cavendish Row, Rutland Square, Dublin

Address: Mr Beddoes / Shifnal / Shropshire / England
MS: Bod MS dep c. 135/1