Thomas Beddoes to James Watt, 13 March 1804
Dear Sir
If you & Mrs Watt & Gregory are coming hither, I wish you wd take up your quarters in my house – or at least let Gregory I want to examine the force & frequency of his pulse at various times – also his skin & other particulars – What you state of the effect of the late storm of snow, agrees very well with the supposition of a torpid mucous membrane – & if he once gets well, unless that can be remedied, he will probably remain too much at the mercy of our seasons.
I shd be glad to have any number of ye best bags on hand not exceeding 12 – I am not in such hurry but if you come soon, & can bring them witht annoyance, it will be time enough – & they may perhaps be mended by reapplication of varnish –
I not only intend to leave out No I & II of my Essays but to new model the whole – introducing much fresh matter in place of the rejected.
I can say nothing – but if the gout medicine is discovered I shall rejoice extremely – The conduct of the discoverer – if such he be – is more silly than you have any idea of. Lady Lushington believes she had discovered it long since from his own hints pressed him to put a price upon it – which he declined & talked of taking out a patent – I hardly think the Solanum Dulcamara wd answer – & as to the Atropa B. it must be upon independent principles not from analogy <affinity> to the real plant, used by Welles –
I have seen Mr Muirhead who appears as if he needed to take more care of himself than he is inclined to do – & suppose he will be here again for a few days soon – The Bath water I suppose wd be his poison
I am Dear Sir
With compts to your family
Yrs truly
Thomas Beddoes
Tuesday 13 March
Address: J. Watt Esq / Heathfield / Birmingham
Endorsement: Dr Beddoes / Mar 13th 1804
MS: LoB MS 3219/4/115/05