iso Life and Letters of Francis Gallon 



Hallam and his sister had also gone to Dresden. Francis himself 

 writes in something of his old light style on people and customs : 



"We are in full preparation for leaving Dresden early the day after tomorrow. NVc 

 go by steamer to Tetschen to the house of Mr Noel, Mr Woodness's friend; lie called 

 upon me the other day whilst I was snoozing in bed at 9, and was very good-natured to 

 Pern and asked us to stay in his house on our way to Prague. Accordingly we go to 

 him on Thursday and stay until Saturday, which time he wrote to say would suit him. 

 Coombe, the phrenologist, is I believe staying at Tetschen; at least Mr Noel came to 

 Dresden to meet him and afterwards returned with him in the steamer home. Mrs Noel 

 is a Bohemian lady of very good birth and sister to Count Thun, who is a great man in 

 these parts. His face is plain, but the bumps on her head are undeniably gotxl, Mr Noel 

 himself being an authority on that subject 1 . Emma suggested that Lecky who was 

 second in the late duel might be my old schoolfellow at Boulogne ; have you any means 

 of ascertaining whether such be the case? I do not remember him personally, though 

 I remember passing a Sunday at Colonel Lecky's. The Hallams go on Monday but we 

 have made arrangements for meeting them two or three times on our way southwards 

 and then they will stay 10 days at Munich." 



There exists only Emma Galton's diary, which tells us that 

 the party went to Prague (August 22), Carlsbad, Regensburg, 

 Munich (September 2), Augsburg, Constance, Hollenthal, Cologne, 

 Ostend and so to London (September 31). Miss Galton notes that 

 there was a fearful storm ; Francis Galton records that he was nearly 

 drowned off the Goodwin Sands, but I can find no details. Galton 

 was back in Cambridge on October 20 begging his father and Emma to 

 come down there for the visit of Queen Victoria. " Mrs Hoppet 

 is all anxiety to see you." Miss Galton's diary does not refer to the 

 visit so that probably it did not come off. The following letter 

 indicates that Tertius at least was not present. 



THIN. COLL. [31 Oct. 1843]. 

 MY DEAR FATHER, 



I have been talking with Dr Haviland about the lectures I have to attend. 

 He tells me that if I put a "spurt" on and go to 4 lectures a day, that I shall be able to 

 finish with Cambridge by the end of next term; he absolves me from hospital practice in 

 Cambridge and accordingly I shall be able to practice (if I like) next June 2 years. 

 I have without hesitation adopted his plan. I must pass an examination by each of the 

 Professors separately and the examination takes place at the close of their lectures. 

 Whether I shall feel myself strong enough to go in for all four or any of them at the end 

 of the course I attend I do not know; if not I shall do so next year. I am woi'king 



1 Mr Noel formed a fine collection of casts from living heads taking those of 

 men noteworthy for either ability or crime. This collection has recently been presented 

 to the Galton Eugenics Laboratory by Lady Lovelace. 





