108 Life and Letters of Francis Gallon 



to increase "wisibly afore my werry eyes." What could I do? Partridge said it was 

 a carbuncle, but I knew better. For I had as soon as I had seen it, read 12 ditl'erent 

 authors on that point, and thus prepared, I was determined to fight vigorously. I 

 pitched a lancet into it, poulticed it all night, swallowed a fearful dose of blue pill and 

 colocynth, and an ounce and a half of salts next morning. They felt very aggravating 

 in my stomach, but at 3 p.m. the boil was almost colourless and gone down wonderfully. 

 Tuesday, fast improving, lancet cut healing. Wednesday, all but well, left off sticking- 

 plaster. Thursday, cured. Extreme cases, i-equire extreme measures. Please write 

 and tell me when the Gurneys come. How often ought I to call on the Homers — ditto 

 on Clias. Darwin, who left his card here the other day. I drink tea with Mr James 

 Yates' tomorrow. Good Bye, love to Mammy, Delly etc. 



Tell Darwin that I have lots of tales to tell him. Partridge [sends] complts. 



In the next few letters we find the question of future education 

 still prominent. Clearly Tertius Galton was emphasising the importance 

 of laboratory work, especially in chemistry, and there appeared little 

 chance of it at Cambridge. Francis' social side was having consideiable 

 claims made on it, and he was working and jjlaying hard at the same 

 time. Again, as at Birmingham, the rushlight was doubled up and 

 burning at both ends. 



Nov. 5, 1839. 

 My dear Father 



I was in\"ited to tea by the Homei-s, very kind invite, but unfortunately 

 signed Anne (I think) Horner. Now as I had not the slightest earthly idea whether 

 there was such a person as Mrs Horner or not, I did not know whom Anne meant, and 

 therefore I could not answer, so as soon as I had time I set off to call. But they had 

 directed their note Bedfoi-d Street, Russell Square, and when I got to Russell Square, 



1 could find no such place. I went to B. Street, Bedford Square, Upper B. Place and 

 knocked at every No. 2 in the neighbourhood. At last I called a consultation of three 

 policemen, who after some debating gave over my case as hopeless ; what could I do ? 

 Their name was not down in the Court Guide. The next day I made an expedition to 



2 other Bedford Streets, but no go. Then came the day I was to take tea with them, 

 and it suddenly struck me that the numbers in Lower B. Place might be different from 

 those in Upper B. Place. I tooled there and luckily it was right ; the Lyells were there, 

 and one of the Horners had just returned from Germany, St Petersburg etc. ; they were 

 very kind to me. Mr Horner was in the North. I shortly after called upon Charles 

 Darwin', who was most good-natured etc., he has been unwell. I called upon Mr James 



' The well-known Unitarian and Antiquary of Lauderdale House, Highgate, and 

 founder of the Yates Chairs at Univei"sity College, London. 



' Charles Darwin had returned from his voyage in the "Beagle '; had been married 

 in January of tiiis year (1839) and was living in Upper Gower Street. 



