142 Life and Letters of Francis Gallon 



studies, but complained even bitterly of their narrowness. Luckily 

 for him his medical studies had- supplemented them at the very point 

 where they were most defective the training in observation and 

 experiment. In 1840 there was no Natural Science Tripos, and of 

 course Moral Science and History had not been thought of. There 

 were Professors of Chemistry, Botany, Geology, Natural Philosophy 

 and Mineralogy, but as the honours students must read for either the 

 Mathematical or Classical Tripos, these professors did not attract the 

 able students who were working for fellowships. Indeed Laboratory 

 and Museum accommodation was very limited in Cambridge in 1840, 

 and the modern idea of laboratory training may be said to have been 

 practically unknown. In a certain sense Galton's training had been of a 

 far more modern character in London than it could be in Cambridge, but 

 at the same time the intensive study of mathematics was a distinct 

 gain and one which was of great help to Galton. His first letter to his 

 father, after the latter's departure from Cambridge, runs as follows : 



THIN. COLL. CAMBRIDGE. Monday, Oct. [19], 1840. 



MY DEAR FATHER, 



Thank you for your letter. Six silver teaspoons will be amply sufficient. 

 If you cannot send wine easily from Leamington, the best plan will be to write to your 

 London wine-merchant as there is a carrier direct from there. There are no letters for 

 you from the post, but I enclose one from Adele which I received today in a letter to me 

 from her. I have had as yet no answer from Leonard Horner. O'Brien has not yet 

 returned to Cambridge, but was expected today. He fell desperately in love at Inverary 

 where he went with a party as tutor. I will write to you on completing my arrange- 

 ments. 



My rooms are very comfortable. Emma's pictures are quite at home, as usual, in 

 my bedroom, and I am going to invest in a plaster bust of Newton and get it bronzed over 

 and put up opposite the fireplace [see Plate LI]. I have got everything except my linen 

 which is not quite got ready. I shall however be able to send you my accounts in two 

 days. Theodore has returned, but I cannot find him, he arrived about an hour since. 



Perry 1 gave us his first lecture today ; what a pleasure it is to hear a real senior 

 wrangler speak. My organ of veneration is so very strong that I doubt when I shall 

 dare to address him. What a fine sight a surplice night is, the bright light of the wax 

 candles and the white dresses so well contrasting with the dark panelled oak behiud 



gives no slight resemblance to a scene in Revelations I am as happy as possible and 



am preparing for a long and strong pull at reading. Love to Mater and all. 



Your affectionate Son FRAS. GALTON. 



1 Senior Wrangler in 1828, Tutor of Trinity, 18371841, and afterwards Bishop 

 of Melbourne, 18471876. 



