Thomas Beddoes to James Watt Jr, 8 June 1804
My dear Sir
Once or twice in coming into your brother’s room I have found busily engaged in study & have remarked the circumstance to him. I cannot say he seemed to receive the obsn very graciously. If he does employ his mind intently upon any subject, I shd suppose it must be injurious – Indeed I think it makes little difference whether he expend upon ideas or upon muscular motion too much of that power, which shd be employed upon amelioration – he will become weak & emaciated equally whether he too strenuously exercise his head or his limbs. I do not know whether he will ask how he is to manage, since he must think about something because he must feel that there is a great difference between difft occupations of the thoughts – & he ought not to read any books but those of which the contents are most easily apprehended – I wish you wd persuade him to renounce heavy reading altogether –
If the zinc strengthens him well & good – If not, there may be discovered one or two tincs of a nature difft from any he has yet employed & with nothing suspicious in their operation. However, if the weather grow hot again & he comes hither for a few days, we shall be able to talk about that
Begging my compts
I am my dear Sir
Yrs truly
Thomas Beddoes
8 June 1804
Address: J Watt Esq. Jun / 42 / Milsom Street / Bath
Endorsement: Dr Beddoes / Clifton 8 June 1804 // Thinks Gregory’s close application to his studies injurious to him / Expectations from tinc zinc & other Tonics
MS: LoB MS 3219/6/02/B/79