Anna Beddoes and Thomas Beddoes to James Watt Jr, 12 May 1798
Clifton
May 12 – 98
[in Anna Beddoes’s hand:]
That so peaceable a man as yourself should breathe blood and slaughter at every respiration does not in the least surprize me. It is so natural to you; that without it I hardly think you could exist. – But to turn the little Doctr into a Sir John Falstaff is so happy a metempsychosis, that I would run the risk of his neck or even my own, for the pleasure of observing the effects of his valiency nay, I would take care to have the clothes basket in waiting to screen him from danger should his heart fail him; what can a wife do more than save her husband and conceal his weakness – perhaps you are not aware that Dr B has distinguished himself in a civil commotion and relates the exploit much in the manner of Sir John with equal truth and less humour. –
I very much admire the sincerity of your letter, your education does your inscription credit; the first thing to be expected in a great character after courage is this nice sense of honor, which is only a civil modification of military courage – your intention of coming was so kind, that had you never taken any notice of my letter I could easily have forgiven you – Probably the lectures will be concluded the end of next week; and another set, an epitome or summary view, of what have been given will commence, provided a sufficient number of subscribers can be obtained, but of these, and of a course designed for the benefit of the poor in which Count Rumford’s Essays will be practically delivered, and models exhibited, the whole to be got up in high style . . . I will leave the Dr to explain for he knows what he would be at, which is more perhaps than I do; and I must not forget that I am writing to Mr Watt, before whom I am afraid to speak . . . yet I do not care, for I cannot see him look down upon my ignorance, with that ineffable contempt which his features so well know how to assume. –
You are too indulgent to the doctr, he is entitled to no rest from his exertions, for they have been very paltry, he has three able assistants whose noses he keeps so constantly to the grindstone that they will come out of the laboratory absolute skeletons, while he sits kicking his heels, (a lye direct for they are sore owing to the fellows conceit in wearing too tight shoes) and coining work as fast as your machine coins pence.
I cannot have any mercy on a man who generally keeps his knowledge bottled up and corked tight, when he does treat his friends, he ought not to be niggardly, as soon as the bottle is once opened it ought to circulate freely, so I heartily pray that you [MS obscured] [en]abled to come and see fair pla[y] [MS obscured] time for me to make room for the [MS obscured] little Dr. so adieu.
[In Thomas Beddoes’s hand:]
Have you heard of the metallic tractors from America that cure so many pains? bits of brass & steel like the lower end of compasses? Could you get made for me at Soho a Papin’s digester? I enclose the printed paper that you may see for what I want it – If not can you tell me where I can get one made – I intend soon to return Mr B’s books, which have been of use to me in the lectures –
Yrs truly
Thomas Beddoes
12 May
Address: James Watt Esq Junr / Soho / Birmingham
Endorsement: Mrs Beddoes / Clifton 12 may 1798 / Facetious remarks
MS: LoB MS 3219/6/2/B/71