1796

Thomas Beddoes to James Watt, 10 August 1796

Dear Sir

I am sorry that I have been disappointed of the corrected copy & that you have had the trouble of correcting a copy twice – however a little time will correct the evil –

The boxes by water are arrived & Mr Coutts has one –

I propose <agree> that Mr McGregor shall begin with a pint; & take it warm, if no effect follow at first; & that during the inhalation a bladder of warm water shall be held to the pit of his stomach to excite that organ & perhaps by sympathy to give greater effect to the air, which I suppose may be much increased –

I have a long volunteer letter from a Jamaica Doctor about the yellow fever, which it seems is not extinct – But it is long & as I received it this morning I have not had time to read it through –

Will you ask Mr Forman to give me the sum of my acc^t , including the ordered articles, but not including the goods on commission – I much wish to clear the score – but I do not want the old items to be restated as I have his letters –

The bag holds very well – but I can say nothing of the effect as we do not mean to look at the ulcer till Monday. The pain was never considerable – I am inclined to expect a cure – which will be a great event – Ewart tells me that what is stated in the last n^o of the Med^l Review is false in every particular – I tell you that I strongly suspect Ferriar to be the writer; but you must not tell any body but James Watt – A letter of Ferriar to him which he read me 3 years ago compared with his obs^ns on airs afford a compleat specimen of that hypocrisy which Voltaire says is so common among authors – In the letter he said he had small expectation from airs; in the book he strongly insinuates that he had the highest, I suppose to set off his disappointment – yours

T.B.

Endorsement: Dr Beddoes / ab^t Aug^t 10^th 1796
MS: LoB MS 3219/4/29/07