A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country/Beaumont, (Madame le Prince de)
BEAUMONT, (MADAME LE PRINCE DE).
One cannot say more in praise of this lady's writings than that they are in the hands of every body. With the graces of stile, they join good sense and solid reasoning. Her sentiments on education, particularly, are worthy of the general admiration they meet with.
She was born at Paris about the year 1711. She lived many years in England, where she chiefly employed her time in writing upon different subjects. Those of her works which are held in the greatest estimation, are entitled, Magazin des Enfans; Magazin des Adolescens; Magazin des Jeunes Dames; and Nouveau Magazin Anglois.
"In educating youth," says Madame de Beaumont, "it is absolutely necessary, in forming their young minds to virtue, never to separate religion and reason; one must be dependent on the other: for the support of which, it is of the utmost importance to study the Holy Scriptures, which are alone capable of inspiring us with a just idea of the Eternal Being, the recompenser of virtue, and the avenger of crimes."
This celebrated writer has very judiciously blended entertainment with instruction, by putting it in the form of Dialogues between a governess and her pupils, whose different characters, dispositions, and tempers are well sustained, There are many very entertaining stories introduced in the course of their conversation, applicable to the subject, and a variety of authors quoted, to give weight to their arguments. The beauty of every virtue is pointed out, and set in the most advantageous light, in order to inspire the young mind with true sentiments of honour, humanity, and universal charity; or rather, that compassionate interest for the feelings of others, which is called benevolence.
Her other works are, Instructions pour les Jeunes Dames qui entrent dans le Monde; Lettres de Madame du Montin; Lettres diverses; Cyran, &c.