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ISO   Life and Letters of Francis Galton


passed and she is almost and looks quite herself again'. We were staying with Judge Grove at the time, in a house he had taken in Dorsetshire for the shooting,-and his extreme kindness and that of all the family we can never forget.

I am rejoiced at the very good account you give of your health, and the good news of your Father. Somebody ought to make a fortune by "Drosera pills "-vegetable pepsin! The name would be capital. Poor Hooker,-what a frightful blow,-and a young family of girls wanting a mother.

We have been at Leamington for a fortnight and return home to-morrow. Previously we were at Bournemouth, when I renewed an acquaintance with H. Venn of Caius, who is great on "Chaucer." I wonder what your work now is. I saw your rejoinder in the Quarterly but not the original attack. I have alluded to your article on "Restrictions etc." in my book, which ought to be out soon. Ever yours, FRANCIS GALTON

GEORGE DARWIN, Esq.

42, RUTLAND GATE, S.W. Jan. 8/75.

MY DEAR GEORGE, Thanks for Lady R   's letter, though her correspondent says little, and many thanks for your letter 3 or 4 days since.

That "curve of double curvature" was a sad slip for "curve of contrary flexure." The other point, I unluckily cannot answer, for I cannot get from the printer my copies of the paper and do not recall the passage or context. When we next meet I will tell you. Thank you much for the equation to the ogive.

Dr A. Clarke and nature have done me a world of good; my heart is set a going again and he quite withdraws a somewhat dispiriting diagnosis which he made when he first saw me. He told me of your diagram, on the facts of which I most heartily congratulate you.

On Thursday, Jan. 11th, there will be a Statistical Council when the papers will probably be arranged. If I get there, I will send a postcard to tell when your paper is to come in.

My twin papers come in and some are very interesting. J. Wilson of Rugby is a twin and sends me lots of addresses.. I got a most curious letter from Lady E-, whose family abounds with twins, besides one treble and one quadruple birth. I feel saturated with midwifery and am haunted with imaginary odours of pap and caudle ! You have real odours of pitch and tar.

Ever sincerely, FRANCIS GALTON.

GEORGE DARWIN, Esq.

42, RUTLAND GATE, LONDON. April 14/75.

MY DEAR DARWIN, George told me that you would very kindly have some sweet-peas planted for me, and save me the produce. I send them in a separate envelope with marked bags to put the produce in, and full instructions which I think your gardener will easily understand. I am most anxious to repair the disaster of last year by which I lost the produce of all my sweetpeas at Kew. With very many thanks, Yours very faithfully, FRANCIS GALTON.

June 2nd, 1875. (FONTAINEBLEAU, at present only.)

MY DEAR DARWIN, Thank you very much for your kind letter and information. It delights me that_ (notwithstanding the Frenchman's• assertion) the large peas do really produce large plants, and that the extreme sizes sown (except Q) are coming up. I could not and did not hope for complete success in rearing all the seedlings, but have little doubt that the sizes that have failed may be supplemented by partial success elsewhere.

We have found Fontainebleau very pleasant and are now moving on via Neuchatel, with some hope that George may, as he was inclined to do, hereafter fall in with us. He knows how to learn our address from time to time. My wife is already markedly better. With our united kindest remembrances to you all, Ever yours, FRANCIS GALTON.

It seems absurd to congratulate you on your election to the Vienna Academy, because you are a long way above such honours, but I am glad they have so strengthened their list by adding your name to it.


' The grave anxiety of a recurrence hung like a sword above the heads of the Galtons for many years. Mrs -Galton's Record shows that from this time onward, till her death, she was more or less an invalid,!in frequent pain, which limited largely her social activities.