As you are a Philosopher[2] I suppose you will think I have great humility or great temerity to send you my Compositions in verse making but I like them very well myself, and if I could write better I would - Samuel still hankers after the Athénée,[3] and I am inclined to think Gembloux would be the more desirable - He has naturally a greatp2dislike to bodily exertion and that being an Agricultural College, he would have a mixture of bodily and mental Occupation - I am by no means an advocate for cultivating the mental faculties alone especially when unaccompanied by religious instruction There is a very good motto of the Wesleyan Methodists[4] Knowledge is Power but it only enables the irreligious and unprincipled Man to be more extensively mischievous” -p3My notion is that it would be an act of Charity to do all we can with Samuel until Christmas - & then if nothing satisfactory can be decided for him we must I think leave his Conversion[5] to God’s time & moment - & get him some healthful employment for his hands, as wel as his head - You spoke of some Priest coming to him - I should be very glad for I cannot proceed this the wet & dirt to the Josephine Sisters - and I am notp4progressing with my French Education satisfactorily - Samuel still seems very firm in his attachment to you but adheres most positively to his dislike of religious instruction - Mr Algar spoke of the Boy never having had a chance of instruction before - but he is labouring under a mistake He was 16 Months with the Marist Brothers[6] 6 Months at Sedgeley Park & 2 Years with Mr Dunn a Catholic School Master at Clifton -p5but he was with an elder Brother,[7] and I felt anxious to give him a chance, by removing him from any Protestant influence I thank you very very much for your Kindness to him and if it fails now - we will still hope that at some future day it may bear fruit -
I hope Samuel will meet with you today - & with much respect
Gembloux is not Samuel’s taste I shall I hope see Dr Ledbitter tomorrow,[8] and it may turn out brighter than I expect