From Thomas Beddoes to T G Estcourt   [?1808]

Wed^ny Ev^g

My dear Sir

I think a mother at least should never be left a moment in a state of needless anxiety – Please therefore to tell Mrs Estcourt that her little Edmund has never gone at all back – His mesenteric symptoms in which his danger lies have gone on diminishing as fast as possible though very slowly A cold & those wandering inflammations which shew how deeply his constitution is affected have teased Miss ––– & so they will –

I do not know whether I guess right, but your damsel has appeared from her countenance to be accustomed to medical consultations & to wonder at my not entering into the merits of the case with her. This I never do, but content myself with giving nurses dry, short plain directions. I am told I do wrong and have been credibly informed that a most fashionable Doctor in town gained his celebrity by laying his wits alongside those of nurse maids, &c I suppose Mrs Estcourt’s servant or Miss Matthews’s have mistaken these less essential symptoms for signs of relapse

yr^s very truly

Thomas Beddoes