Thomas Beddoes and Anna Beddoes to James Watt Jr, 23 December 1797
Theurer Freund
Herzlich schmerzt es mich von ihren knochen-schmerzen zu lesen.
Bedenken sie aber dass dieser welt ist verganglich und daher dass ihrer peine nicht in ewigkeit fortdauern konnen. Bedenken sie auch dass man die trauerspiele meines herrn C——ge und des Herrn Wirksworth verworfen hat. iene zu drurylane diese zu Covent garden. Welcher schickfal, mein gott, für deinen geliebtesten erkantesten kindern!
Tom Wedgwood praises my conduct respecting the anatomy & blames that respecting the chemistry – so see what a hobble you have got me into – for it was your doing – He (T. W.) will be here in a day or two – He thinks it will retard the Pnc Instn This think not I – But perhaps the hundred will not appear at my call – There are not above 70 yet – There are some women – but vexatiously few – I think you as prime mover of the plan should write to the Hon. or the Rev. Mr Knox (which latter told me their ladies thought it too wise for them), exhorting them by their love of elegances & entertainment to embrace this opportunity. I say no you know how to put it to the ladies.
I hope to get Scherer for operator who wd an operator xxxx. I shall have his answer in a day or two –
Before you get this, I shall have executed all my commissions from you, except the commission of compliments to Clayfield. I have shewed Kivell your fathers & Withering’s prescribing letters – He seems better, but not to be congratulated as out of danger – He thinks himself highly indebted to you for your kindness.
If the lectures take place I shall see you & your household creatures ere long – You cannot conceive what compts (presqu’à la Archer ) I receive from Tom W– – – d & W. Reynolds on acct of that trumpery introductory lecture – I think Willich may be illuminatus – but I fear his exposition of Kant which he has sent me is not very luminous – Cox & I made 2 expts of galvanism a la Humboldt sans succes – on melancholics I do not despair though –
Von heer anfangt die Frau
[in Anna Beddoes’s hand:]
How can you be so modest as to imagine yourself destitute of assurance & verbosity. Are you not complete master of both. – How dare you make such an absurd apology to me, you meant to offend me I perceive; v– –ery well sir, – – you have perfectly succeeded. – By virtue of your memory do you recollect these lines; oh how favoured I am to triumph over you for once
Beside the parson’s bower of yew
Why strays a troubled spright,
That peaks and pines, and dimly shines
Thro curtains of the night?
This never was translated I think, was it Mr Watt?
Why steals along the pond of toads
A gliding fire so blue,
That lights a spot where grows no grass,
Where falls no rain or dew?
Don’t you recollect that
The parsons daughter once was good &c
But when the fragrant beans began
Their fallen bloom to shed
Her sparkling eyes their lustre lost
Her cheek its roses fled
I have room to quote no more because I want, if I can, to thank you for your very kind present, which I had not the presence of mind to do before – and now I do not know how to set about it, for fear of Archerising into Archer’s song however I do assure you I am extremely obliged to you, believe me or not just as you think proper – you can’t think how delighted I was to find ce petit ouvrage Francais eu de dans: mais monsieur c’est de vous n’est pas?
Votre petite scoliere studie la langue Francaise tous les jours, mais elle ne eut pas faire de grand progress sans son maitre
[postscript in Beddoes’s hand:] Alas! Alas! I fear poor Lambton is dead of an Italian intermittent – He has not left a better man behind!
Address: James Watt Esq Jun / Soho / Birmingham
Endorsement: Dr Beddoes / Clifton 23 Decr 1797
MS: LoB MS 3219/6/02/B/61