Genre:

Letter

Subjects:

Education, Schools, Mathematics, Scientific Practitioners, Status

    Reports that 'although a rather pompous pretence has at last been made of teaching the Eton boys arithmetic, mathematics, and modern languages, it is but a pretence' (643), and the subjects remain 'systematically neglected' (644). As a consequence 'the most eminent Englishmen in every art and science [...] have not been educated at our public schools' (648). Also notes that undistinguished tutors at Eton earn more than 'three or four times as much as Professor Owen himself' (646), whose salary as 'Superintendent of Natural History' at the British Museum is 'but 800l. a-year' (647n.)

Reprinted:

Higgins 1861