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OCR Rendition - approximate
Eugenics as a Creed and. the Last Decade of Galton's Life 281 opportunity of doing so pray express my sincerest sympathy with her I do pity you both in losing so dear and intimate a colleague and in so tragical a manner.... I am staying with my niece, Mrs Studdy, here at her house, until Saturday morning, then I go to my nephew Edward Wheler, Claverdon Leys, Warwick. These two, another dear niece Mrs Lethbridge and my ageing brother, now exhaust the list of my near relatives. Kindest remembrances to Mrs Pearson. I heard of her movements from Professor Clifton and knew she was not in Oxford yesterday. Ever affectionately, FRANcis GALTON. The blow struck us both severely ; there was much to think over, and some things had to be done immediately, Biometrika reconstituted, an eloge written, a memorial to Weldon instituted and many papers sorted. Without Francis Galton's continuous sympathy, aid and counsel, it would have been impossible in that year to continue my work. First, as to the Weldon memorial; largely by the aid of two or three generous donors, of whom it is needless to say Galton was one, enough money was eventually obtained for a marble bust by Hope Pinker, to be placed in the Museums at Oxford, and a biennial Weldon medal with premium for the best biometric memoir published in the immediately previous years-the medal to be awarded by Oxford electors, but not confined to that University nor to British subjects. The scheme, as finally drafted and accepted by the Hebdomadal Council, was largely Galton's creation. I had felt very strongly that biometry was destined eventually to take an important place in biology, especially in researches into evolution and that, for an international prize of this kind, at least in the more distant future, the Council of the Royal Society would be the fittest judges. Secondly, sheet after sheet the eloge on Weldon went to Francis Galton and was returned with criticisms and suggestions. He was especially dissatisfied with my brief references to Weldon's part in the attempt to remodel the University of London, and to his work in relation to the Evolution Committee of the Royal Society. As some history, little recognised, is conveyed in this interchange of letters, I have ventured to insert several of them here. They will illustrate the help Galton gave to his younger friends and the sympathy he felt for all their difficulties. The wrapper and title-page of Biometrika had to be hastily rearranged, and I wrote to Galton for advice. His suggestions, very closely followed, ran thus CLAVERDON LEYS, WARWICK. April 25, 1906. MY DEAR KARL PEARSON, Friday, May 4, after your College meeting, will quite suit me to all appearances ... but I can foresee only a short way, and have to mould my plans upon others. I go to London to-morrow, and am away in _Essex, Saturday to Monday, but have no further engagements. About the future of Biometrika, would not the simplest plan be for you to edit it solely in your name? Weldon often said that he wished you would do so, for all the work had been and will be yours. You suggested that "founded in 1901 by Weldon, yourself and myself" should be inserted. You must not give so much prominence to me. Why not keep to the exist.ing formula and say: "Founded in 1901 by Professors K. Pearson and W. F. R. Weldon in consultation with Francis Galton." Then simply "Edited by Karl Pearson"? A list of coadjutors would scarcely add w*ht to your name Affectionately yours, FRANCIS GALTON. Paul 36
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