To Miss R K Carnegy of Craigs, Montrose.

                New Lanark 30 Oct 1817
Madam
        Your esteemed letter arrived
here while I was in London & it was
mislaid & not found till just now.
        It always affords me pleasure to
discover minds who have been accustomed to
reason accurately & without prejudice. It is
by such alone that the world can be
improved and rendered essentially happy.
        Your question, with your thoughts, is most
natural. "But where are the books to be found
which a child can understand ?" I can only
reply by saying that they are not yet in
existence, at least I have industriously sought
for them in vain & hitherto I have been
compelled by the existing prejudices to use
such books as can only destroy the human

---------------------------------------------------

intellects. In the best I can find there is
scarcely a sentence that directly or indirectly
does not convey error. I hope however; nay
I feel confident the day is dawning when
these things shall rapidly change; when
we shall from infancy cultivate & not
destroy all the rational powers of the rising
generations.
        Hitherto I have permitted the
usual scotch parochial school books to be
used in the schools here; but after I have
had some additional discussion with the
public respecting the principles which I wish
to introduce into general practice; it is my
intention to have books prepared for our
schools which shall be in undeviating unison
with those principles & I hope not contain one inconsistent
or false notion – one sentiment that it would [be]
useful or possible afterwards to unlearn.
        When these can make their appearance

---------------------------------------------------

I shall have much pleasure in putting
them into your hands. in the meantime
permit me to subscribe myself
Yr obliged & obt serv
Robt Owen.

It will at all times afford me
satisfaction to hear of the progress
of rational principles in your
neighbourhood & any such
communication with which you may
favour me shall in future meet with
immediate attention.

---------------------------------------------------

     10½
LANARK          GLASGOW
385–C             31 OCT 1817