74 Appendix I 



Sir J. Crichton- Browne's reply will be 

 found in the Times of August 29, and led 

 to the second letter, which follows here 

 (Times, September 5) : 



' As Sir J. Crichton- Browne appeals from 

 the report of his address to the full text, 

 which I have not yet seen, it becomes im- 

 possible to base any argument on the sum- 

 mary provided in the Times of August 18. 

 But there are several points in his reply to 

 my letter which I think illustrate the differ- 

 ence between his and my attitude to problems 

 of this kind, and which I should like to 

 comment upon. 



* All these sociological problems are really 

 problems of mass statistics, and no appeal to 

 mere opinion can be of any value. We can 

 only appeal to statistical data reduced by 

 adequate modern statistical methods. We 

 have before us a definite problem : Is or is 

 there not a dearth of ability at the present 

 time in this country? If there be, what are 

 the causes which account for it, and how can 

 the evil be remedied ? It will be noticed 

 that I prefer to use the term ability, because 

 all ability cannot be fairly described as 

 " intellectual," and the term " intellectuals" 

 is to my mind as objectionable as ''genius." 

 " Intelligence," " energy," " ability," I think 

 I grasp; " intellectuality " and "genius" I 

 am doubtful about ; and as for the " infec- 

 tivity of genius," it appears to me in the 



