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OCR Rendition - approximate
300 Life and Letters of Francis Galton are apt to criticise younger men,--it seems to me that none can need stronger proof of how his sagacity and power of self-sacrificing friendship lasted to the end. (Confidential.). 7, WINDSOR TERRACE, THE HOE, PLYMOUTH. Oct. 25, 1906. MY DEAR KARL PEARSON, We are substantially in such close agreement re Eugenics that I can write very briefly. I quite agree to the "secular" work, but with occasional "Chips from the Workshop," to use Max Muller's and Bunsen's phrase. The Eugenics Fellowship was avowedly an experimental venture, so this seems a proper opportunity to reconsider its constitution. As regards ways and means (this is confidential) I am prepared to ensure £500 a year to its maintenance during my lifetime, and fully £30,000 clear on my death for a professorship. What is best to be done during my lifetime, considering my age and precarious health and powers? The " Fellow " should work under continuous direction and in London as you say, and not in too solitary a fashion. Could he be made to lecture or to demonstrate, in connection with the Biometric (or even the Economic) School ? A Professor would have a class, which would keep him to the collar.-Anyhow, it would be convenient if Schuster continued as a stop-gap, working as you suggest at tuberculosis, for that would retain Miss Elderton and the rooms. I would ask him if you thought well. Of the few younger persons, whom I know, none seems to have a larger portion of what is desirable than C.'s son, the statistician, who has now a Government post. He is full of ideas. I do not know whether what could be offered to him, including a post-obit Professorship, would tempt him to give up his not well-paid Government appointment. If you thought well, and could suggest a scheme that the Senate would be likely to approve, I could ask him or any other good man that might be suggested. This is of course quite confidential. So it is on these points I want advice. I ought to explain about B.'s letter. It was so brief and dry that I was unable to appreciate the merits of the case, which I subsequently did when you wrote His second letter in reply to mine wholly removed that impression. I personally like him much. He wants juiceyness (jucyness? I can't spell it!). So Lister is silent this week in Nature. Excuse bad writing in an armchair. Ever affectionately yours, FRANCIS GALTON. 7, WINDSOR TERRACE, THE HOE, PLYMOUTH. Nov. 19, 1906. MY DEAR KARL PEARSON, I am most sensible of your helpfulness and kindness, and find myself so much at one with you that I can now write briefly. Understanding that whatever is done now should be with reference to the " post-obit," I will begin with a revised codicil, see enclosed.-After you have corrected it, and it is otherwise put into order, I propose to, send it to Hartog for his suggestions ; and finally to my lawyer. The work of the Office should now I think be directed towards this end bx thoroughly working the new Fellow or Student in statistics of a kind that you approve, but having a eugenic tendency like so many of your own biometric papers. Next for the choice of Schuster's successors. Your very kind proposal of undertaking the supervision of the Office for a year or 18 months removes from my mind a great weight of responsibilities that I have not health to fulfil. If you undertake it, clearly the choice of the men ought to lie wholly with you. If fairly good luck attends the venture we may find a man by that time (18 months) sufficiently trained and prepared to grow into a good Professor. A. seems to have excellent stuff in him and to be in every way of a suitable disposition, but as I said in my last letter, he should be encouraged to interest himself in the sociological problems and the collected data of the day, and leisurely to prepare a provisional or rather a suggestive programme of future office work. Too much of pure mathematics will be harmful to him from the present point of view. It is most desirable that the future Professor should be on easy social terms with the executives of various societies and departments, and A. seems quite capable of that position before long. As I said, we both liked him much. He inspires confidence, too. Affectionately yours, FRANCIS GALTOL
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