The Ancestry of Francis Galton 41 



A very appreciative notice of Samuel Galton the first appears in 



the Gentleman s Magazine for 1799 (p. 63): 



"A sound and acute understanding, a quick and clear conception, extended views 

 and a mind active and firm, joined to the habit of unremitting industry, commanded 

 success with regard to the improvement of his fortune. The same talents were ever 

 ready to be employed in giving advice and assistance to those who asked and in forming 

 and directing charitable institutions." 



After referring to his local charities and general beneficence, the writer 

 continues : 



"These excellent qualities were accompanied with great hospitality, and their effect 

 improved by the urbanity and courtesy of his manners, by an agreeable, well-formed 

 person, and a countenance expressive of the intelligence of his mind and the cheerfulness 

 of his disposition. He encountered the various accidents of life and the infirmity of 

 old age with uncommon dignity ; the energies of a strong and powerful mind enabling 

 him to support those trials which related to himself, without relaxing in his attention to 

 the distresses of others. The same firmness of character accompanied him in death." 



Surely much of this characterisation might be directly applied to 

 his great-grandson Francis Galton. Unfortunately no portrait of him 

 appears to have been preserved'. Nor were " the various accidents of 

 life " which the first Samuel encountered slight in character ; besides 

 the bankruptcy of his pai'tner a more personal distress arose from the 



' A pleasing pen-picture of this typical Quaker is given by his granddaughter Mary 

 Anne Schimnielpeuninck (see Hankin, Christiana C, Life, of Marij Anne Schimmel- 

 jwnninck. Vol. I, Autobiography. Pt. I, 1778—1787, pp. 4.5 — .53. London, 1858). 



" Of all the pleasures of my childhood, by far the greatest and the sw,eetest in 

 recollection were the visits, whether of days or weeks, to my dear grandfather at 

 Dudson. I can hardly say how delightful to me was the quiet, the spirit of love and 

 order and peace which characterised his household. The family, as I remember it, 

 consisted of my grandfather himself and of Lizzie Forster. She had formerly 

 superintended the education of my aunts, my father's sisters, but, after the death of my 

 grandmother and my aunts, Lizzie Forster continued her post as head of the establisli- 

 ment. My grandfather himself presented so striking a likeness to Wm Penn in West's 

 picture of the Treaty with the Indians, that I never knew any person who had seen 

 both, who was not struck by it. He was very cheerful, orderly, active, acute as a man 

 of business, and most kindly in his consideration and thought for the welfare and 

 happiness of all about him. While my mother bestowed out of her benevolent heart, 

 like a noble benefactress, my grandfather gave in a benevolent, considerate, and 

 business-like way ; with brotherly kindness he ascertained what would add to the well- 

 being of his people, and supplied the want kindly, beneficently, yet not lavishly, with a 

 completeness that sliowed his pleasure in giving, yet with an orderly economy. He 

 considered himself as a responsible steward, and as his fortune had been the fruit of 

 God's blessing on liis industry, he desired, remembering the lalxiur of liis youtli, to 



p. G. 6 



