From Thomas Beddoes to James Watt   26 August 1807

My dear Sir

I beg you to believe that it was by no means inattention which has prevented me from writing to you about Mr Murdoch – I never saw or heard anything of him but through you – Here are two letters for him, which I shall direct as you desire – within this 3 weeks I was told that gentleman repeatedly called on me one morning without leaving his name – I suspect now that this was Mr Murdoch – I c^d not help supposing that there was cause for his non-appearance of an unexpected nature, but with which you could not fail to be acquainted –

Mrs Beddoes & children 3 are wandering about the Dorset & Devon coast & have been so these six weeks – I go on pretty much as usual I heard in spring that Mr R Boulton was ill of typhus at the very time I was attending Jos. Wedgwood Jun^r of his 2^nd relapse of this complaint between Bristol & Birmingham –

I sh^d be glad at this season to take a trip to Scotland too, if it were possible that any sick person sh^d foolishly send for me thither – Indeed I am just returned out of Berkshire, & probably shall go in a few days beyond London, on such an errand –

The country looks prosperous internally –

I am sure if my wife were here, she w^d desire her best regards –

I remain
Dear Sir
Yr^s truly

Thomas Beddoes

26 Aug. 1807