1803

Thomas Beddoes to James Watt, August 1803

My Dear Sir

I have <been> prevented by diff^t. causes from writing to you – I was exposed to variety of temperatures & got crippled for a few days in the shoulders by rheumatism – & after foolishly submitting to medication, sent it off in a few hours by the gout medicine – This medicine I believe continues to do every thing to be expected from medicine – I hear some complaints ag^t the discoverer as a jew.

Mrs B. brought forth a little boy & is gone into Cornwall – Her sister had a daughter – & then by the nurse’s mismanagement milk fever & afterwards puerperal fever – This has been succeeded by terrible affections of which the depth is unknown – but which by the fever seem very alarming.

I have upon my table a most doleful letter from poor Lovell Edgeworth – I did not know they used the English so ill in France – He says he was marched from Geneva to Verdun in a temperature of 96^o & is now confined without money in a damp prison –

I wish to be permitted to publish this letter with^t. date & name, as it w^d go some way to animate us ag^t the Corsican barbarian who really is getting into Robespierre’s track –

If you happen to know any way of sending money to Verdun dept. de la Meuse, I wish you w^d write to Mr Edgeworth & say I asked it – as Lovell is absolutely destitute & must I think perish – if not relieved.

I finish with^t communicating what I had in mind – It has been highly approved by those who have seen & heard of it – But I shall print a few copies describing the thing – & will then send you one, with a request for your observations –

Yr^s truly & with compts to Mrs Watt your sons & Messrs & Miss Boulton.

Thomas Beddoes

Saturday

Address: James Watt Esq^r / care of Gilbert Hamilton, Esq^r / Glasgow
Endorsement: Dr Beddoes / Aug^t 1803 // Mr King’s Gout Medicine / Lovell Edgeworth
MS: LoB MS 3219/4/045/06