Thomas Beddoes to Francis Douce [3/4 March 1808]
Sir
In addition to the pleasure from the illustration of antient manners & Shakspeare, a person of my profession may feel an interest of a peculiar kind from the researches of enlightened antiquaries – this depends on the light thrown on the connection between the manners & the state of health of particular periods – Some things in your late publication & particularly in your dissertn on the morris dance induce me to presume to trouble you with a query upon this subject. You have heard no doubt of an opinion pretty much prevailing respecting the increased frequency of consumption – you are aware perhaps of the propensity among some of us physicians to impute this in great measure to a fashion of indolent luxury, which has been creeping in of late years, which has created a great difference in the course some generations & threatens to render us all too tender for the climate we inhabit – From what I have seen of authorities bearing upon this point, the seasons were actually colder, dress warmer, sedentary, & above all, sentimental, occupations less common, life less within doors, & what was spent within doors more like out of doors by reason of the fitting up of the houses – much more of animal chearfulness or children’s spirits in mature years – This sort of freshness was the cause (or concomitant) of comparative exemption from nervous & consumptive complaints.
I state my creed deduced from various common-place documents – I should be much gratified to know how far it is corroborated by your deeper & more extensive researches – I wd also be glad to be directed to any pointed authorities, which have not become stale by quotation – I am Sir
Yr respectful sert
Thomas Beddoes
A letter directed under cover to T. G. Estcourt Esq MP House of Commons wd reach me –
I wish it were a good bookseller’s speculation to republish some of the old authors quoted by you – This wd be a real addition to our stock of literature, which cannot be said of many publishing & republishing modern schemes
Address: Francis Douce Esqr / British Museum / Great Russel Street / Bloomsbury
MS: Bodleian MS Douce d. 29 ff. 68–69