1798

Thomas Beddoes to James Watt and James Watt Jr, 1 April 1798

Sir

I ought to give the projector some acc^t of the chemical concern here as it is now set on foot. Two lectures have been given & as far as I know extremely well received. One was an acc^t of Physics to point out the relation & bearing of chemistry to the other branches. The other historical – In this which was last nights business the Herculaneum glass figured & the audience as you will suppose was most extremely struck by the exhibition. I shewed it very minutely; but did not trust it out of my own paws – It shall be returned this week. I certainly consider the loan as an high obligation. In the 1st lecture Alston was shewn – It figured extremely well – Not one I believe of the chemists present guessed its composition & I declared I w^d not tell them.

The operator appears to me quite master of his business & laborious – I know not if it can be required that he sh^d be ingenious in devising new exp^s – Though it is desirable he sh^d be I have not ascertained whether he has this species of talent. But he certainly goes through all the processes of the new chemistry with dexterity – I confess the first week he gave me a bad impression of himself – but I believe he is really modest.

As to numbers they are not ascertained – I left the doors open these two lectures with^t however declaring y^m open lectures – The place which w^d hold on cramming 170 or perhaps 180 was full but not crowded – they told me it w^d not have held above 6 more without close-sitting & I know of that no. who were absent. But the number of tickets yet given out does not account nearly to this no. – I hope I shall have the chemical lamp in a week or fortnight. Do you or Mr Boulton want any chemicals prepared? I know not if you keep an operator general at Soho.

I am D^r Sir
Your obliged friend

Thomas Beddoes

1 April

PS much medical occupation has hindered me from digesting a syllabus – something to put them in possession of the new nomenclature & the old I must print – I have had a patient undoubtedly venereal from his birth & with^t primary affection ever. That is his mother had no chancre when he was born – much relieved & will be I hope cured by nitrous acid. If you think any probability applicable to n. acid or oxyg^d muriate arises from your experience & can draw up a precis within three weeks I sh^d be glad.

For Mr Watt Sen^r

D^r Sir

If you have too much on hand to attend to such a petty business as a caoutchouc transferring tube – will you lend me your old one? I hope to send you the 4 <very close> printed sheets on nitrous acid soon; they are composed but a printer’s mutiny in London has hindered their being worked off – I know that some very important cases of gouty stomach &c have yielded – Mr Barr did give me hopes (& Dr Carmichael too) that they w^d favour me with some unfavourable cases – w^d to God they w^d! I shall be ashamed to publish only success – In the regiments here they will now use this acid – One most splendid cure where 2 or 3 drachms of mercurial ointment has dreadfully affected the patient –

I am yrs truly

Thomas Beddoes

Address: James Watt Esq Jn^r / Soho / Birmingham
Endorsement: Dr Beddoes / Clifton 1 Ap^l 1798 / upon his intended course of Chemical Lectures
MS: LoB MS 3219/6/2/B/69