1801

Thomas Beddoes to Thomas Wilkinson, 17 April 1801

17 April –

Dear Sir

My chief communication at Lambton was with you. There you expressly told me that at any moment I might command accruing moneys. Hence it was natural for me to conclude that I was to transact with you on acc^t of the boys residence with me – This is the simple explanation of what appears obscure to you in my last letter – & I sh^d think you might have deduced it from a previous letter of mine in which I request you to divide your remittance to me into smaller portions, which I sh^d not have done, had I not imagined y^t the whole sum <to come from you> w^d be large – L^y Anne now informs me that she mentioned the arrangement to me – Therefore I doubt not but she did – However I have no recollection of any such thing – Of the remittances from her ladyship not one was ever referred to any particular object – & altogether they do not amount to what I have advanced on the joint acc^t – Now I understand the affair, I at least am satisfied, it being indifferent to me with whom I settle – Unluckily we all omitted to make a memorandum at first – Ten lines w^d have saved misapprehensions –

That the £325 must be deducted is a thing that speaks for itself – I am as great a friend as any one can be to that accuracy to properly resolve to observe –

Upon Dr. Darwin’s decision I calculate thus – From Saturday morning the day I set out from Clifton to the next Sat. morning when you obligingly went with us to Newcastle are just seven days – I reckon three & a half for return – travelling expenses as in 1798 I take at eighteen pence a mile – all included – I mean this to be rather below the mark – The distance I make 287 miles – that multiplied by three gives £43..1..0 – If you have any objection to this computation, you will of course be so good as point it out –

To prevent further differences of conception & the disagreeable trouble of explanations, allow me to state that by L^y Anne’s & Mr R.L’s express approbation the Voy. pitteresques are lately procured for John – About this splendid & expensive work I did not trouble you with a specific application because I had already your sanction for useful purchases –

I observe also that since the acc^t was transmitted to you, other bills or articles for John separately have come in – However I have been carefully to procure almost solely articles that are imperishable & of improving value. Though I <do not doubt, when property & the advantage of a boy in John’s circumstances come in competition which sh^d be sacrificed & you seem of the same mind, I have always had the sacred regard to procuring a solid & adequate consideration –>

It is in this particular that I think John will feel & find his infinite obligations to his guardians – Narrowness (or niggardliness rather) in the education of children destined to great fortune is almost universal – The property is regarded as the principal; the person as the accessory – Hence the frequent wretched fate of country gentleman – who either perish prematurely – <or> are tortured all their lives by the consequences of intemperance – or by the pains & penalties of idleness – all which evils most schools promote. I am persuaded had Mr. Lambton’s mind been as early awakened as the minds of these boys, y^t he w^d now have been alive <&> occupied about those useful objects which he latterly meditated – He used to impute the first blow to his constitution to school & college temptations –

Billy is a most uncommon boy. But John I think exceeds any child I ever saw in industry, intelligence & active curiosity – Had he gone to school & been cowed at first, as from his shyness he <easily> might his understanding & character w^d both have been ruined – And still he may be injured, unless he is peculiarly managed at first going to school – Respecting his constitution I explained fully the nature of that to Mr Ralph, who mentioned it to me – You will probably learn more from Mr R. what I said & I will spare you the repetition of remarks which evidently shew that from conformation & positive symptoms he is disposed to the malady of his father & grandmother – If he escape this, he will make a very healthy man –

I thank you for saying you will let me know when you have decided – in one case the sooner I know the better <for J & B> – There are certain past & present ties which will never lose their influence on my mind – These make me very ardently wish the good of these children – Beyond these I have no motive beyond what you or the most independent person possible <might have>, either in considering what may serve them or in communicating my ideas to their guardians – I would not have submitted to this attention but from regard to their father, esteem for their friends & kindness to the children – Not only have I laid out from £300 to £400 (in an elaboratory, a workshop, &c &c) for their sake – of which expenditure you will hear no more – but for 12 months I have – otherwise ag^t my feelings – rec^d a bigger boy – & L^y Anne thinks they have been better for his society – which was just what I intended –

I think now I have troubled you at suff^t length & with compt^s to Mrs Wilkinson

Am
Yr^s Sincerely

Thomas Beddoes

Endorsement: Dr. Beddoes Ap. 17. / 1801
Published: Durham, I, 49–50
MS: Lambton Park MS