Letter – Thomas Wentworth Beaumont to Wentworth Blackett Beaumont – 9 Mar 1848

      Newark Thursday night

My dear Wenty,

	Don’t you expect too much from the young Republic in supposing it possible that they shd wish to place their affairs in steady & tried hands? We know all their steady & tried hands, & I shd be sorry to see Theirs trusted by them. O Barrot they will have nothing to say to for he desired to substitute the Dk of Orleans & the young <Cte> de Paris!

	Now the most that we can hope for is the continuance of the present men in power with the addition of some one or two of their own sort in order to keep these mens Heads straight. Lamartine is very good to lay the Hounds on the scent, But I doubt very much if he can ride to them. He is neither a Man of fierce Passions or a Man of Genius. When I went to Paris at the last Revolution I was at a soiree of his & I saw him entirely satisfied & his English wife too with the Proof sheets of some Poetry, that he was publishing. She asked me if the negligence of Printers was not extremely provoking I replied ‘Yes but there’s no help to it.’ So the poor woman had to go on correcting. I give these Fellows about three years of their ‘last of Despoticisms’ after which, I expect, they will get so heartily tired of it, that they will quietly yield some Solitary tyrant. 

	It will be ten days yet before I am fit to move. At that time, or rather later, for you must give us time to reach Alconbury Hill, if you can ride over & meet us there, I hope to be able to walk with you.  I trust indeed that this Detention here allow me an immense deal of good, or I shall have lost so much time. These Eruptions, which are so annoying & prevent me from putting on any clothing, are carrying of a vast quantity of inward impurity. The muscles I can feel are acquiring much cleanness. I can move them with much greater facility than I have been able to do for many years.

	Did you see in the Times I think of Tuesday or Wednesday, the account of the Affray at Bywell, where Surtees distinguished himself by his coolness as well as courage? They want such a Fellow as him now in France.

	I hope you will consider this letter as a fresh proof of my Amendment & with all our Loves, Believe me my dear Wenty,

	Your very affect[iona]te Father

		TWBeaumont