1808

Thomas Beddoes to James Watt, November 1808

Dear Sir,

The poor brother of y^r very sensible & respectable agent died at last! When at Kineton, I left a paper signifying how desirable it w^d be that his disorder should be ascertained. His family consented; & as I suspected at our short interview in summer, great dilapidation of the abdominal viscera was discovered. The most considerable part of these changes no doubt took place since that interview & I suppose any person who had had sagacity to evacuate him freely, keep him low & employ strong counterirritation might have restored so young a man to health –

I begin with this subject because it is only today that I have got the acct. of the examination of the body – I wish to ask you a few questions, respecting the health of the poor & the regimen of hard labourers in a high temperature – Before harvest last, a few observations of mine were circulated in newspapers concerning the bad effects of strong fermented liqours in harvest labourers; & indeed going so far as to say that unfermented diluents are best to work upon. The idea found great favour in many places – among the masters, mind – & they were enlarged into a little tract of Good Advice – This has induced persons to suggest to me to draw up a little body of instructions for the working class – I have endeavoured to get all the light I could; & should be very glad of much more – Certain steady workmen employed many years in the hottest and hardest parts of the iron manufactories in S. Wales are clear that beer of the strength called ale is hurtful & weakening – beer of the strength of 10 gallons of malt to 30 gallons not injurious – but from much experience they do not think it at all preferable to water – perhaps plain water is not so good as milk & water – butter milk & some Scotch & Welsh liquors. Your observation can perhaps supply facts – It is obvious that men who have scarcely laboured hard without ale ought to have no vote – But if any are in that <the> works, who have conscientiously tried different drinks, their testimony w^d be important – And if you can favour me with anything on which you can pretty well depend, or get anybody else to do [MS torn] should thank you much.

There is another very important point, on which you can furnish instructions, if any body at all can – Among the hardships incident to married poor women, who have a family, I have noticed one as peculiarly severe – Nothing can support their health against it – & in consequence of it, a very slight cold shall render them sickly for years & at length destroy them. This is neither more nor less that their frequent dabbling in water to wash – C^d no good genius invent a machine, by which opulent neighbours attentive to the welfare of these hard fated human creatures, shall be able to redeem some of them from this destructive drudgery? —

We have heard from time to time a favourable account of y^r health & that of Mrs Watt & hope this tempestuous October may not have injured it in either – Here Mrs Beddoes has contrived to have another daughter – 4 in all – 2 & 2.

I hope Mr R. Boulton is got about – something or other had pressed on Mr Murdoch’s digestive organs. I sh^d not be surprised to hear of his having gallstones – with united compliments to y^r family / including Mr J^s Watt, my wife and I remain

with great regard yours

Thomas Beddoes

Mr Murdock mentioned to me the heat to which founders are exposed in y^e casting of large cylinders – w^d not putting on a wet shirt, just before going into the focus of the heat spare a man some suffering?

Address: James Watt Esq. / Heathfield / Birmingham
Endorsement: Dr Beddoes / Nov^r 1808 / queries about health of workmen &c / His last letter to me / he died in Dec^r next
MS: LoB MS 3219/4/49/9