Lehrjahre imrl Wunderjalire I 17 



temperature at which the oil feeding the flame should be kept in order 

 to give a maximum of illumination. 



On Jan. 25, Galton is in London, at 17, New Street, Spring- 

 Gardens, again; he writes to his father: 



MY DEAR FATHER, 



I set off at 2 this afternoon for Paris, where I intend to stay till the end 

 of the Vacation, that is to say I should have done, but that plaguy thing conscience 

 prevented me. The placards about Boulogne steamers looked very tempting. I have 

 just been to Bramah about my lock, was more than 1| hour with his top-sawyer man, 

 who was in raptures and most deferential ; he thinks about it today and I call again 

 on Monday to explain anything that he may not fully understand. I enter my caveat 

 for lamp on Monday. Now for proceedings. 



Arrived at Brum at 8| p.m., theatre and whiskey grog till 12. Was shut up in 

 the coach with a frowsy fat old gentleman and a fast young gentleman whose lungs 

 were, judging by his breath, entirely composed of full-flavoured cubas and the Cream of 

 the Valley. The latter was not a very pleasant companion for vinous fumes ascending 

 into his cranium displaced what reason had existed there, and showed their presence by 

 causing him primarily to carol forth Nix my dolly pals 2"'" y to sing a very senti- 

 mental song, and at last to open the window and afford me a very convincing proof that 

 gin and cigars act as a strong emetic. Fell asleep and awoke about 10 miles from 

 Bristol. Cross coach had had an accident, waited an hour till it was mended, occupying 

 my time in eating 2 eggs, 4 slices of beef, 2 plates of muffins and half a quartern loaf 

 and then sallied forth and studied St Mary Le Port. Went to Cross, box-seat, a 

 provincial medical man sitting behind with 2 friends, we got into a dreadful quarrel 

 about homoeopathy, and as he was giving in and I was blarnying about Hippocrates, 

 a gust of wind carried my patent gossamer hat down a steep hill into the middle of 

 a pond (what was more natural than that beaver should take to water). The guard 

 reclaimed it, but it presented the appearance of a chemical filter [sketch], as well it 

 might for on inspection I found that its substance was composed of brown paper. The 

 day was beautiful. Arrived at Cross, Erasmus had been in the morning to meet the first 

 coach, and had gone away again. I gigged it to Loxton. Sun shone, quite mild. 

 Somersetshire is really the most beautiful country I have ever seen, north of the Alps 

 (for Bessy), and of all dull pig-headed stupid bipeds the Somersetshire clown stands pre- 

 eminent. Arrived at Loxton the manor house commodious but not gaudy 1 . Eras: 

 girth visibly increased, Delly all smiles and lawn collar, the last mentioned article being 

 as whitewash to a sepulchre or as charity, covering a multitude of deficiencies. They 

 really both look as happy as possible ; don't clash at all being separate all the morning, 

 and in the evening whilst Delly writes letters for 4 hours and reads others for 1 quarter, 

 Rassy pulls Track (the dog) by his tail and ears alternately, causing him to growl 

 ferociously for 1 hour, then sleeps 3J ; and after that both adjourn to the dinner room 

 to edify 3 maid-servants and a small boy with a learned commentary on the psalms, 

 giving the true interpretation, pronunciation, and critical dissertation upon the most 

 difficult Hebrew or Chaldee words. Was knocked up next morning at 6, of course fell 



1 See Plate XXIX. 



192 



