Childhood and Boyhood 73 



Frank returned home on June 30, and had only a clear day at home. 

 On July 2 he went to the Colonnade House, Worthing, for the holidays. 

 On August 31, Tertius Galton took his son up to London to join Mr 

 Bury for Boulogne. 



In a letter three weeks later (Sept. 20, 1831) Francis announces 

 his safe return to his mother. After the usual phrases as to the happy 

 character of the school, Francis continues : 



" I arrived here very safely. It was very calm indeed I think, but all the other 

 people thought quite the contrary. There was a very fine Newfoundland Dog, but he 

 was very tame indeed. Almost all the women were seasick. I lost my Berth, but even 

 if I had not, I would not have slept in it. When I was asleep we past the Hector (the 

 ship in which Captain Parry sailed to the northern regions), but when I awoke I found 

 myself just opposite Gravesend. There were many Brigs and Frigates. One of them 

 fired two guns, which I suppose was a salute. I did not see Sheerness, nor any three- 

 deckers anywhere up the Thames. We past the Wellesley and the other ships at the 

 Downs " 



The boy of nine was developing into a good traveller. The last 

 letter but one of the Boulogne series may be given in full : 



Wth November, Boulogne, 

 1831. 

 My dear Mama, 



Please will you send the desk ' which you gave me, by somebody that comes 

 over here, or in anyway that you can, furnished well with wafers, sealing-wax, a gimblet 

 (for mine is broken), a turn-screw, good paper like that which you write on to Erasmus 

 and a little packet containing about twenty nails, and the same number of screws, with 

 a file. All the wire is come off that chain which Adele bought me, so I am obliged to 

 tie my keys to the buttonhole of my jacket by a piece of string. I have got the key of 

 my playbox, which I quite forgot to tell you in my last letter. My Greek Lexicons 

 have not become of great use to me, but I think they will soon, but I am always 

 wanting my Classical Dictionary when I do my Virgil. I am quite well and I hope 

 that you are also. I get better notes a great deal than I did last half-year, and am 

 much happier. One of the Masters saw my candle in my desk which I brought last 

 half, and he slyly took it away and put it on his desk, intending as I thought to keep it, 

 but as soon as he was gone to the other end of the room, 1 sneaked it up and took it 

 away and put it in my cap, — but alas ! he found it out, and I do not think I shall get 

 it again ; so please add a Taper to the various articles and a pretty seal. Desks are so 

 much in fashion tliis half, that there is hardly any big Boy that has not one. Send a 

 quantity of pounded gum arable, as I cannot manage to get it here. Send in my desk 



' In the following letter he writes : " I am so desirous of having my desk, that 

 I am making a very nice place to put it in, where no Boy can get, and I am always 

 thinking of it." 



p. o. 10 



