86 Life and Letters of Francis Galton 



Wednesday, July 20. Went to Kenilworth to see a new school opened, and electrified 



the cat and girls. 

 Friday, July 22. Went with £mma to Kenilworth to sketch. 



On August 8 Francis goes back to school, and the old state of 



warfare is I'esumed. On the 11th the impositions begin; then the 



boys go to bathe in the canal, but the Doctor stops it, and they go to 



Ladywell bath. August 22 and 23 there are further impositions ; on 



August 24 Hawkins gets thrashed. Sept. 1st Galton took a walk in 



the evening by French leave, but was seen by the servants. Sept. 7 



and 10 there are impositions, and on the 9th Galton is nearly thrashed 



by the Doctor for not knowing his lesson. Sept. 12 there is another 



imposition, but perhaps consolation in the record that the cat has run 



away with one of the partridges presented to the Doctor ! 



Saturday, Sept. 17. Walked out, had an imposition. Dr in a black humour. 



Sunday, Sept. 18. Had cider for dinner. I think the Dr is getting rid of it, for it 



tasted very sour. 

 Tuesday, Sept. 20. A row between Hawkins and the blackguard ; had two chases after 



him, but at last lost him. 

 Wednesday, Sept. 21. Lines missed for the 1st time since he [?the Dr] has come to the 



school. 

 Thursday, Sept. 22. Was too late for school got an imposition. 



For change on Sept. 27 there was a " regular row " with the 

 dame, and so through the months of October, November and December 

 we have the usual round of boyish pranks and punishments, inter- 

 spersed with touches of more general interest, e.g. Oct. 20 " The gas 

 was lighted for the first time," and Oct. 21 "The gas all of a sudden 

 went out. Got 40 lines." While on Oct. 22 "We walked to see the 

 railroad ; had some fun, was not in time for breakfast." 



On the 27th of October Francis sends a very piteous letter to his 



sister Adele : 



My deae AoiiLE, 



Thanks for the paper. I have not been able to write on account of 

 the hard work and many impositions I have lately had — 30 one day and 10 pages of Gk. 

 grammar to write out, the next 40, and the next 40, so that I have not had the least 

 time. Another boy has left and is believed to be in a consumption. Indeed I never 

 knew such an unhappy and unlucky school as this ; 2 more will leave at Christmas, and 

 I would give anything if I could leave it too. There has been a great row about some 

 chaps getting books from a neighbouring circulating library, one book the Dr cribbed 

 and another Earp threw into the fire, and some of us were called into the study, and he 

 accused us, telling the greatest story possible but luckily he was found out in most of 



