Lehrjahrc find Wamlerjahrc l~>:! 



my Mathematical M.S.S. were at Claverdon. I have been latterly in despair owing to 

 their loss. I had hunted for them before leaving Claverdon, but found them not. 

 I looked everywhere in Cambridge and was equally disappointed. They are invaluable ; 

 all the talent of Perry, O'Brien and Mathison 1 are condensed into those papers. There- 

 fore please take the greatest care of them. Burn the Duddeston titledeeds if you will, 

 but preserve these manuscripts. If you have even the compassion that glimmers in a 

 butcher's breast whilst he sticks a pig, or in Majendie whilst he runs needles into the 

 brain of a living dog, send them immediately. Till I receive them I am desperate. 

 I am very glad to hear Holland's report of Bessy ; please tell me all you hear 

 about her. 



DON'T FORGET THE M.S.S. PAPERS , if you do, may the spirit of gout tweak 

 your remembrance ! ! ! 



P.S. Please remember the Manuscripts send them immediately. 



Good bye, Yours truly, 



FHAS. GALTON. 



Saturday, May 1 [1841]. 

 MY DEAK FATHER, 



I received 2 or 3 days since your letter with good news about Bessy and bad 

 news about yourself, for which thanks (I don't mean specially the latter part). I have 

 also received 1 dozen of port marked " very old." 



O'Brien told me the day before yesterday that I must certainly read with Hopkins 

 next October, and on my saying that I would rather remain with him he strongly 

 recommended me not. I own this has made me very bumptious ; it does great credit to 

 O'Brien for his openness, as of course tutors prefer to keep the better men. As he stays 

 in Cambridge during the Long Vacation (poor man, he is married), which is very dull 

 and hot during summer, I go with Mathison our Mathematical Lecturer to Keswick in 

 Cumberland with a party to read. The terms are 30 for about 3 months, and the life 

 we lead a very pleasant and inexpensive one, certainly much cheaper than in College. 

 By the bye we are turned out of our rooms during the Long Vacation. I have been 

 obliged to take a half-classical coach for the approaching College examination (in about 

 4 weeks). 



Now you must not expect me to be first Mathematic in Trinity 2 . I do not expect 

 it myself, as amongst other very good men, there are some who have already read 



1 Perry was senior in 1828, Mathison fifth Wrangler in 1839, both were ultimately 

 tutors of Trinity and Perry Bishop of Melbourne. 



2 Galton's year (1844) was not a very strong one in mathematics; there was no one who 

 has left a name in that field ; and in particular it was not strong at Trinity ; that College 

 got 6th, 7th and 8th Wranglers only, with men who did not take Trinity fellowships. 

 Of Galton's friends, Hughes was 22nd Wrangler, Stewart and Maine were low Senior 

 Optimes, but first classes in the Classical Tripos ; Dalyell, very nearly " wooden spoon " ; 

 Clark was 18th Senior Optime and second Classic to Maine's Senior Classic. Dalyell 

 also took the Classical Tripos. On the whole Galton's friends were on the literary side. 

 With what we know of his mathematical powers, he might easily have led the Trinity 

 contingent. 



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