Thomas Beddoes to Davies Giddy, 29 June 1796
Dear Giddy
I want to know whether you have got my panegyric on Pitt – The bookseller has not done it justice, having never I believe advertised it. If I did not think him an honest man & the minister perfectly callow, I shd suspect foul play. However the thing is making its way silently in the world, & amazes those who already thought ill of Pitt. It wd have been senseless to write a common-place political pamphlet; & it will not do much good to write an uncommonplace one, even if better than others by all the difference. I wait for the bookseller’s orders to compleat it by adding an acct of his war administration, to which I cd give more poignancy than the last has – not by a dull detail of events but by painting his councils in [xxxx] true <lively> colours – It shd be short & bitter – I was surprized by a passage in a letter from Lambton today announcing an idea on the as current among violent Pittites of Fox coming in to make peace – They only regret that he shd have expressed himself so strongly on the hustings. However I do not think Fox will relax. He must at his time of life & from the late experience of the world be so convinced of the absurdity & wickedness of old ministerial management that he will not, I imagine, come into power at all – For I do not see how his terms can be agreed to without innovations that will be thought, & perhaps really will be, hazardous – I believe also Ld Lansdown is sick of statesmanship. A letter I had from him the other day deserves to be printed with that letter of Mad. Maintenon, which Voltaire has inserted in his Louis XIV.
You have seen Darwin’s Vol II, which I think surpasses the promise of the first, & will place <the author> among the greatest of mankind – the founders of sciences – Mr. Watt goes on improving the air-apparatus – & I endeavour to increase the powers of the airs – he has just printed an acct of a simplified apparatus, which will soon be manufactured & will suit a kitchen or parlour common fire. My opinion of the permanent benefit which will be derived from the scheme is daily confirmed by facts. I shall soon finish another pamphlet, but as I had collected before, I will now select – You will be surprized to hear that money enough to make a good series of trials is subscribed. Now the object is to devise a good plan. I almost shrink from the idea of carrying it into execution myself.
Donne I believe goes on well with his models. He has got a noble list of subscribers.
My wife is in Ireland. I have desired her to return in Septr early. I hope she will – & then we shall be glad to find your sister retains her resolution of venturing into the world – I will let you know – the decline of summer will plead more eloquently than I can against delay – Darwin had projected a poem on the progress of society – a Mr Knight has just published one, containing much falsehood no nonsense & little poetry. I hope Darwin will write a continued poem on some subject –
I find by a note from Ly J. James that she has met with you. Sir W. is a curious character – much anecdote from observation or conversation, no reading, no reflection – strong sense & boyish propensities – Remember me to all your family & all my W-of-Cornwall acquaintance
Yrs truly
Thomas Beddoes
Address: Davies Giddy Es / Tredrea / Marazion / Cornwall
Endorsement: Dr Beddoes / 1796 / June the 29th
MS: Cornish Archives MS DG 42/20