Letter – Thomas Wentworth Beaumont to Wentworth Blackett Beaumont – 6 Nov 1847

My dear Wenty,

	It is a saying of Voltaire’s, that all History teaches only one lesson, that ‘the Strong always oppress the weak.’ However, there are others the <same Paris honour> of Injustice the Humiliation of Pride &c

	There is a better foundation for an Englishman’s Education than History, which is to learn how to apply to all subjects strong common sense & liberal feeling. History often invokes much Prejudice. I believe, after all, that the best Basis of a Gentleman’s Education is a knowledge of the Classics, Greek Roman. It is a curious Truth that before the Christian era there was more noble-ness in the Ideas of men than there has been since. I account for it in this way – that Christianity came to instruct Mankind, when the Heart failed to do its work properly.

	If the Christians had more <……lety> & did more justice <to> the authors of the Books in which they receive their Best Education than in calling them Heathens, they wd be mreo entitled to respect as will be more worthy of their own name.

	However we’ll talk these matters over & I will content myself now with saying that you will have a higher tone of mind during the Rem[ainde]r of yr Life if you combine Classics & Maths while you are at College, than if you make the latter yr principal study.

	Let Maths teach you to reason & the Classics teach you to feel.

	Thanks for your Birthday letter, which I know was only delayed by yr having a headfull of business. Edw[ard] talked with me yesterday for more than <10> hours & I am not the worse for it today. Jane & two of the Girls come to us for a day next week so we are improveing. All our Love to you

      Yr affect[ionate] Father

      	TWBeaumont

B.P. <Sat.y>



[on cover:] W.B.Beaumont / St. John’s College / Cambridge

[postmarked:] Wakefield No 6 1847 C, Cambridge No 7 1847 B