Bruges
I thank you for your letter very much - in the first place because there are very many truths in it, which may be serviceable for me to refer to from time to time & secondly because it proves that you gave the matter much consideration & spoke your mind freely even if the truth were more severe & distasteful and it is only such friends I value - but but (there is always a but or an if they say in the direction of Women) Are you quite sure that I was influenced so much by thep2wishes of the children as by your own opinion expressed on former occasions & by the opinion of Mr Algar who said “A person’s own language was a necessity, but a foreign language was only an accomplishment” - dont you think that might have had the greater weight of the two - besides which are you sure that you grasp the whole question involved - - & bear in mind that my children have Protestant Guardians[1] that they are children of a Protestant Father, that we are only in a Foreign country on sufferance that at the end of 2 or 3 years at most my childrens’ Guardians will expect to have themp3returned with a full knowledge of French & German & Commercial Education besides their own language - & not Latin & Greek - that they have allowed them to leave their native land by the sanction of their Protestant Solicitor for that purpose - depending on my judgement to carry out that object - now as far as I can form a judgement Namur offers the advantages of French German & Commerce above any place in Belgium besides the improvement in their Maternal language - So much for the educational part of the business - & now as regardsp4the fancies of the children as regards health &C - Poor Edward had an illness 3 years since when he received the last Sacraments, and when the Physician decided that the thing to save his life would be an elevated spot or as he expressed it pure mountain air - now in as much as their Fatherdied of consumption & their Sister the 2 little ones[2] are both pronounced of consumptive tendency - am I justified in keeping them in a low rheumatic neighbourhood or transferring them to one - With regard to Richard I admit every word of your letter applies with full force - but I plead forp5the little ones, that is rather severe - believe me they have better judgements than Richard. With regard to placing them at a distance from me I am not sure but that your views are right - & we will discuss that another time - Excuse any thing that may seem selfwilled, I am so accustomed to to argue every point with my Trustees[3] elder Sons[4] Lawyers it is hard to take a more submissive tone, but you understand my meaning to be very respectful