176 Life and Letters of Francis Gallon 



My friends I've told you once that really 



I did hit C most severely 



Who answered nothing when I whacked him, 

 But now some plucky friend has backed him, 

 And made him threaten me a dipping 

 Or a sanguinary whipping. 



X and Y together 



D n it if he don't deserve a 

 Licking with a Life-preserver, 

 Up! and, when your coat is put on, 

 Buy the instrument at Mutton. 



Versification was indeed very much in Gallon's mind at this time 



and on April 5, 1843, he writes to his father : 



TRIN. COLL. 

 MY DEAR FATHER, 



I am having the greatest fun imaginable in getting up an "English Epigram 

 Society'" which is to meet 3 times a term, the members are to send in their epigrams 

 anonymously and they are to be read by some one chosen by lot. The subject is to be 

 chosen out of those proposed by a majority. I have got the first in the University among 

 the rising men to join it, two young Fellows of Trinity and bachelors, etc., so T expect that 

 some of the Epigrams will bo first rate. The society consists of 12. All the men I have 

 spoken to have jumped at the idea, and I have great hopes of its working exceedingly well. 

 I think I shall be able to come down this week, when I would coach it to Hatton 

 and then walk on. I send you a poem, 1 have just sent it for the Camden medal and 

 fear it will not interest you much as it is all relative to the present great controversy as 

 to whether man has a conscience (innate I mean) or not. Paley and Locke and many 

 Greek philosophers as you know against it, Plato and Bishop Butler and some German 

 metaphysicians and Whewell on the other side. Stewart seems to be for it, but does not 

 give a decided opinion one way or the other. The mottoes I have chosen explain the 

 point of the whole; I take the paraphrase of the one from Plato to be: "They have ever 

 in their soul a specimen of the Divine nature, lasting and bright as silver or gold." 

 I was obliged to print it before sending it in. I leave it on the honor of the Family that 

 it be not shown to any besides themselves I mean my Father and Mother, Bessy, Adele, 

 Emma, nor in any way to be spoken of to others. 



Your affectionate son, FRAS. GALTON. 



The poem is of deep interest not as a poem, it gained no prize 2 - 

 but as evidence of Galton's faith and view of life at this period of his 



1 See Bristed, loc. cit. p. 214. 



* The prize was won by Galton's friend, W. Johnson of King's. As Mrs Browning 

 puts it: 



Many fervent souls 



Strike I'hyme on rhyme, who would strike steel on steel 

 If steel had offered, in a restless heat 

 Of doing something. 



Aurora Lf.it/fi, 22nd ed. p. 34. 



