Thomas Beddoes to Thomas Wilkinson, 21 October 1798

21 Oct^r 1798

Dear Sir

I acquit myself of my promise respecting Dr Darwin’s letter – I put the question to another physician who stated 20 guineas a day <for a long absence> – He told me he had lately known £180 paid to Dr Reynolds for a journey of not much above 100 miles & a continuance from Saturday noon to Monday morn^g 5 o’clock. This are all the facts I know –

Although John is less prepossessing than Billy, yet I think him not at all inferior in talents or disposition, & very little in quickness. I certainly have not seen 2 boys of greater promise – & I doubt not but John, if he lives & property remains as it is at present will be a most valuable member of society & a happy man. If property goes to wreck, he will I trust be rendered less helpless than persons in his rank of life have commonly been.

I have lately written two dramatic pieces for them – one to shew the effect produced by money in society – & its proper uses – They enjoyed it much & of their own accord with Maryanne took up the characters & repeated the ideas. They talk of learning the other which is shorter & simpler.

They make rapid strides in French & will easily conquer as many languages as they encounter –

The main thing soon will be to teach them something of the nature of the world about them, minerals, plants, &c. I sh^d like to converse with you on this subject – for the chemical & mineralogical & mechanical parts of this instruction will and ought to be expensive. After a time when they have acquired many & clear ideas of natural objects, their heads will be strong enough for the moral relations – of which they will learn something practically beforehand by relieving the poor &c. Next to a blind understanding I reckon a one-eyed understanding the greatest evil of this kind. So I think they sh^d acquire as diversified ideas as are consistent with perfect distinctness –

I am
My dear Sir
Yours with unfeigned esteem

Thomas Beddoes

Address: Mr Wilkinson
Published: Durham, vol. I, p. 43
MS: Lambton Park MS

The full versions of these letters with textual apparatus will be published by Cambridge University Press.