Thomas Beddoes to James Watt Jr, 8 January 1800

8 Jan 1800

Dear Sir

In consequence of the complaint of headache, mentioned in your last letter, I have thought of writing to you for some time past – but diff^t urgent calls have put it out of my head from time to time – I sh^d think something may certainly be done for it – Is it external & rheumatic; or internal & nervous – I have never failed to see external muscular aches, which have a heavy gnawing feel & can be affected by pressure & posture relieved or cured I flatter myself you will take the trouble of describing the circumstances with your usual perspicuity –

Poor T Wedgwood is in an affecting state of deperissement – I communicate much with him about his symptoms – but do not regret that he seldom perseveres in any plan of mine two days because I have no confidence in my own ideas – Indeed it may be said of him now – mutates in horas. Tomorrow he goes into the temperated room – but he has made considerable progress in the plan of a journey to France or Spain – which I imagine he will be able to carry into effect –

Jos. Wedgwood tells me your friend Mr Gill is the most eminent razor maker in the world – w^d you exert your influence to get a dozen good razors with plain handles sent to me at Mr Shephard’s bookseller Bristol – If your clerk will pay for them I will repay him by the first opport^y –

As to any unbelief in the power of the gas, it is impossible to entertain it – Your failure was in the preparation or the inhalation – we have had several batches of new experimenters – & it is an experiment, as certain nearly as any exp^t on chemical substances – Mackintosh Mrs M. & their relations were all elevated the other day into the 3^rd heaven – We have just got another hemiplegic who appears proceeding towards health by exactly the same steps as his predecessor – We have also begun to experiment by the breathing box, which will answer –

yrs truly

T. Beddoes

P.S. I am sorry your fathers friend went off without trying the gas – I said all I c^d with^t making unwarrantable mountebank promises to induce him to stay –

Address: James Watt Esq Jun^r / Soho Birmingham
Endorsement: Dr Beddoes / Clifton 8 January 1800 / Upon my headaches / Deplorable state of T. Wedgwood / Wants 1 Doz. Razors / Success of New Air
MS: LoB MS 3219/6/02/B/76

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