From Thomas Beddoes to Davies Giddy   23 April [1796]

Dear Giddy

A riot must be suppressed; that is no less clear than that a conflagration must be stopped.¹ But experience seems to have demonstrated that neither military nor civil execution will put an end to rioting. We have had our minds occupied by rioting & rioters no less than you in Cornwall, but in a manner somewhat different. Three men were tried at the last assizes for this crime; & one was condemned upon incompetent evidence. A great ferment took place; & matters are in such a train that I hope the man will obtain a pardon² – Mr Gibbs began his judicial career very unpromisingly.³ A barrister of sense & experience assured me that Burke⁴ w^d not have convicted the prisoner – I have the evidence before me & did intend to draw up an acc^t of the whole transaction (which w^d afford an excellent lesson to juries) but having just printed an attack on Mr Pitt,⁵ I do not choose to engage another person for fear of appearing another P. Pindar⁶ in prose –

The great subject of finance now principally employs the thoughts of speculative men. There are many signs of our public expences having arrived near the point at which it becomes difficult to provide for them. The new tax upon wine seems to betray want of resources. It must diminish the consumption of the article. The high triumphant tone assumed by the minister is to me very suspicious. Another year will certainly decide experimentally between the opposite doctrines of Calonne & D’Ivernois, Morgan & Vansittart, Pitt & Grey – If troubles break out in the S. of France, I sh^d not be surprised to see Monarchy, Aristocracy & Royal re-established. I much doubt whether the difficulty of procuring the full discussion of laws by two independent assemblies has been overcome by the new French constn. The council of elders appears insignificant; & the 500 are fast assuming the uncontrolled authority & Billingsgate manners of the convention. This difficulty, I fear, has its foundation in the nature of things, for if you should equalise the powers of two assemblies, w^d not the difference in talents between the members give one the ascendancy in all times of public difficulty? & in times of tranquillity, there w^d be little to apprehend fom the rashness of a single assembly –

Darwin's second volume is out, & his analysis of morbid phenomena is one of the greatest exertions of the human understanding. The foundation of the most important & difficult science is fairly laid. There will be an end of medical imposture in due time; & if the profession continues to exist, the number of its members will be wonderfully diminished – Count Rumford’s is another most important publication. It will go far to banish the dread of want from the most apprehensive minds; & this is surely no small merit in the present state of society – I leave Miss Giddy to Mrs Beddoes – Pray remember me to your father & mother

I am D^r Giddy yours truly

Thomas Beddoes

It strikes me that Donne’s invention may be employed to prevent the elements of geometry from being disagreeable to young people, & that this will be its best application

Cap^t opii grss
bis die – jentaculo x h.s.

℞
Ferr: vitriolat;
Extract: gentiam: aa ℈i
f^t pilulae xx –
capt unam bis die –
haec sufficient