Volume 1

Memoirs of the life of Thomas Beddoes, M.D. with an analytical account of his writings / By John Edmonds Stock.

  • John Edmonds Stock
Date:
1811
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Memoirs of the life of Thomas Beddoes, M.D. with an analytical account of his writings / By John Edmonds Stock. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    z own industry. “A friend rather of prior standing in the College to himself, who, though he afterwards widely dissented from many of his speculative opinions, never ceased to respect his literary acqui- sitions, entered his apartment one morning, and found him very busily envaged with a French grammar and dictionary before him. Upon inquiring what was the pursuit with which he was apparently so intently occupied, Beddoes told him that he had resolved to learn French. His friend advised him to procure a master: he replied that it was unnecessary, adding that he thought he could conquer the difficulties of the language in about two months. His friend desisted from. further enquiry, but privately noted the date of the commencement of his French studies ; and upon paying him another visit at the expiration of two months, took an opportunity of directing the conversation to the subject, and inquiring whether he had mastered: the language. Beddoes answered in the affirmative, and upon one of the French classics being presented to him, read it in English to the surprise of his friend, with perfect fluency. He had, however, as yet learnt it by the eye alone ; with the pronunciation he was perfectly unacquainted. From the French he proceeded to the {talian language, which of course could present no very formidable obstacle to his progress. He next applied himself to the German. He had here greater difficulties to encounter, but his ardour and perseverance, though still unassisted by any master, enabled him to meet them with success. It should be remembered to his honor, that during his residence in the University, the moral qualities of his mind retained all that excellence which had attracted the admiration of his preceptor Mr. Dickenson. He still preserved the same equanimity which had characterized his earlier years, and although exposed to the contagion of intemperate and licentious example, his moral con- duct was believed to be irreproachable. But the intellectual acquisitions of Dr. Beddoes were not confined
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