Thomas Beddoes to Samuel Whitbread II, 11 April 1805
Sir
Permit me to congratulate you upon having been instrumental in bringing to shame a part of that gang of besotted knaves, who by the most wanton waste of British life and property have contributed to enslave France and to lay Europe at the feet of her tyrant.
Peculation I do not feel to be exactly that, for which one would wish to make an example of them. Nevertheless it is a satisfaction to be sure that their meanness is a match for their other qualities.
The time of sanguine expectation with respect to the condition of mankind is past. I most sincerely wish however that the public morals, so depraved by the Pitt-Dundas administrations, may be improved by what has lately happened –
I am
Sir
with great respect
your obedient servant
Thomas Beddoes
11 April 1805
MS: Bedfordshire and Luton Archive Service W1/7000/16/1