Characterisation, especially by Letters   583

at night, all very picturesque and very Italian. My lecture* went off well yesterday. Arthur Galton delivered it effectively, as I am assured, and there was a large and attentive audience. I was utterly unfit for the exertion even of going to Oxford. All pains from the fall have wholly gone, but bronchitis remains, ever on the watch to become bad on the slightest imprudence. Cameron Calton made a brief call this morning. Lucy Studdy goes to-morrow to stay a few days with Eva. I shall be quite sorry to lose Lucy, she has exerted herself in every way to be pleasant and helpful, and allowed me to be quiet as long and often as I wished. Eva, according to Seabrooke, is better physically than she has ever known her, but complains of the headaches. I must whip up friends to keep me company occasionally, when Lucy is gone. I am so much stronger that I hope to be able now and then to get to the club all by myself, or at all events with Gifi to help me in. Mrs Hibbert seems to do very well and the cook is excellent. Gifi highly approves. I saw your post-card of Baveno, sent last Monday. Eva sent it to Lucy Studdy who gave it me. Is all that white on the bill behind and on those in front, snow or bared granite? I wonder if they spear fish by night at this time of year? The lights in the boats are so pretty when they do. Writing rather tires me, so I will leave off here. With most affectionate good wishes to you all. Ever yours, FRANCIS CALTON.

When you next write, tell me how Bob goes on. Lucy would, I am sure, send her best love if she were iii now. You shall have a copy of the Lecture as soon as I receive any.

THE YAFFLES, HINDHEAD, HASLEMERE, S.O. August 25, 1907.

DEAREST MILLY, You are going through a sad and trying time and I greatly sympathise with you. It will be difficult for you and Amy to get as much rest as you want, the home duties being so many and so various and the terrible memories so obsessing. All goes well here and promises well for the future, thus far. The house and grounds are singularly agreeable and we have old friends within reach. Karl Pearson came on a bicycle (2 hours each way !) to lunch yesterday and we had much pleasant talk together. Violet Macintyret leaves us on Tuesday, I am sorry to say ; she sails for America on Wednesday to see her husband's relations there. After that, she returns to England to sail by steamer to Penang. It is as short and cheaper and pleasanter than going there by way of San Francisco. I shall be very sorry to leave this place and may perhaps take another house somewhere hereabouts for the end of September and early October. Our tenancy is out on September 12. We had a most interesting afternoon with Mrs Watts, the widow of the great artist. She has a large collection of his works in a studio to which the public are admitted, and there is a beautiful memorial chapel designed by herself. The spirit of his works is so lofty that one feels the studio to be a chapel. Longfellow's introduction to his translation of Dante quite expresses my feelings and rang in my ears all the time. As she wrote me a very nice letter, I have ventured to transcribe it from memory and to send it you. With Eva's best love as well as mine to you all.

Ever affectionately, FRANCIS CALTON.

THE YAFFLES, HINDHEAD, HASLEMERE, S.O. August 30, 1907.

DEAR SCHUSTER, Part III of the Eugenic publications has just reached me and I have read your excellent memoir in it with great interest. Also I have heard good news of you from Professor Pearson who bicycled to this pretty place last Saturday. I am here till September 12, and then the owner of the house returns, and I must go, with much regret. Miss Elderton seems to be doing an immense deal of good work at the Laboratory. What a nice and capable lady she is. Very sincerely yours, FRANCIS GALTON.

WILLSHAM, BRENDON, NEAR LYNTON, N. DEVON. September 2, 1907.

DEAR MR GALTON, Very many thanks for your kind letter; it gives me very great satisfaction that you approved of the memoir. I seem to have been very lucky in the time of its appearance, since the University has come to the fore through its educational and pecuniary deficiencies and there is no parliament sitting to fill the papers.

* The Herbert Spencer Lecture : see our Vol. In", p. 317 et seq. t Evelyne Biggs' half-sister.