292 MEMORIES OF MY LIFE 



poses only. I took advice on the subject, notably of 

 Herbert Spencer, and I think (though I cannot say 

 for certain) from Dr. W. Farr also. Dr. W. Farr 

 (1807-83) was the head of the Registration Depart- 

 ment in Somerset House. I frequently consulted 

 him, and always to my advantage, for he was highly 

 gifted and cultured. He was most sympathetic, and 

 keenly appreciated what might be called the poetical 

 side of statistics, as shown by his Annual Reports 

 and other publications. 



The size of my circular was alarming. Though 

 naturally very shy, I do occasional acts, like other shy 

 persons, of an unusually bold description, and this was 

 one. After an uneasy night, I prepared myself on the 

 following afternoon, and not for the. first time before 

 interviews that were likely to be unpleasant, by what 

 is said to have been the usual practice of Buffon before 

 writing anything exceptional, namely, by dressing my- 

 self in my best clothes. 



I can confidently recommend this plan to shy men 

 as giving a sensible addition to their own self-respect, 

 and as somewhat increasing the respect of others. In 

 this attire I went to a meeting of the Royal Society, 

 prepared to be howled at ; but no ! my victims, taken 

 as a whole, tolerated the action, and some even ap- 

 proved of it. 



Much experience of sending circular questions has 

 convinced me of the impossibility of foretelling whether 

 a particular person will receive them kindly or not. 

 Some are unexpectedly touchy. In this very case, a 

 man of high scientific distinction, with whom I was 

 well acquainted, who was of good social position, of 

 whose family many details were already known to me, 



