Thomas Beddoes to James Watt Jr, 23 April 1795

Dear Sir

I was much chagrined that I c^d not make your father a visit. I am somewhat consoled for the disappointment by a passage in one of your letters, in which you said you did not believe your father w^d communicate his new ideas. – The new Ed. is finished & gone to London. I sh^d have sent you a copy, but I suspect you are not near Birm^h now – I shall send copies to every contributor as in justice bound; & those for Birm^h will go tomorrow. You will find the notification respecting the air-apparatus inserted. The pamphlet is I hope a very creditable publication – it runs you see to 220 pp. I do not dread the reviewers but I am afraid of your father’s criticism of the pages immediately following the title provided he condescends to notice them.

On the acc^t in your letter I have to say that you permitted Mr Coates to deliver the apparatus designed for him to me – which he did – & as no customer has yet offered for it – though it will not I dare say now lie long in hand – it is as yet emboxed. Therefore though I am responsible for it – you must not draw for it, till it is sold. I have to remark on another article viz – Oct^r 29 To h . . c . . d Manganese Cask 3/ – 15s .. 9d that this is the first I ever heard of it. Though I requested your agent to let me have about this qt^y I hope it is lying at Bristol, & sh^d be glad to know where – when you have an opp^y to enquire –

So pray draw on me for the ballance – which with^t the manganese Mr Coates’s apparatus is only £8 .. 12 .. 3

The manganese we can settle as it turns out – hereafter –

If any think occurs to you or your father on reading the Ed. I shall be obliged to you if you will mention it – as it will be easy to print 2 pages as addition or correction

I am now collecting the names of the subscribers – but my correspondents are very dilatory in their answers – I suppose we muster 700 guineas –

Yrs sincerely

Thomas Beddoes

23 April – 95

Address: Mr James Watt / Soho / Birmingham / to be forwarded
Endorsement: Dr Beddoes / Bristol 23 April 1795 // Observations on his acc^t for Pneumatic apps
MS: LoB MS 3219/6/2/B/59

The full versions of these letters with textual apparatus will be published by Cambridge University Press.