114 Life and Letters of Francis Galton 



In February the question of Clubs arises. Francis had met his 

 Uncle Howard at the Hubert Galtons, and the relative advantages 

 of the Oxford and Cambridge, the Athenaeum and the Parthenon had 

 been discussed. Uncle Howard had promised to get him proposed and 

 seconded for the Athenaeum, the Library being mentioned as a chief 

 advantage. Actually it was not till fifteen years later, in 1855, that 

 Galton, then distinguished as an African traveller, was elected under 

 Rule n to the Athenaeum. He always spoke with great pleasure of 

 the friendly meetings with many different minds at that Club, and 

 already at 18 he had directed his thoughts towards it. 



We have seen that Galton had started his College career with 

 Anatomy, Physiology and Chemistry. He appears diu'ing this term 

 to have worked more definitely for preliminary science, adding more 

 Chemistry, some Botany and apparently Forensic Medicine to his 

 studies. But the exact range of subjects he tooTc up and the nature 

 of the " matriculation " to which he frequently refers are not clear 

 from the letters. In March we find plans being made for a visit 

 to Paris with Sister Emma and his father — thus in a letter of 

 the 28th : 



"I have got my passport drawn out, but they will not give it me until I get from 

 you a certificate stating that I go abroad with your approbation, I being a minor; so 

 please send me one, couched in the following manner : 



This is to certify that my son, Francis Galton, is leaving England for France with 

 my entire approbation. 



(Signed) S. Tertius Galton. 



Only think of the man's insolence in requiring one ; it was almost saying : ' Does 

 your mother know you're out.' To get your passport you must attend once yourself and 

 can represent the family. The times of attendance are between one and three. No. 6, 

 Poland St., Oxford St. You must tell rae however the day before you appear as I must get 

 a ticket to fill up. Just come crammed full of information about Names, Height, Eyes, 

 Hair, Complexion, Ages, and all that sort of thing which you know of Emma and 

 Stone. Perhaps the ' Varmints ' will want me next to write you a certificate certifying 

 my approbation. The passports are ' free, gratis and for nothing,' as they say to the 

 hospital patients. The Fweing I know nothing about as I have no passport to Vise yet. 

 I am almost sure I can do that. Hodgson has just made his appearance, says he saw 

 you and Darwin the other day — he looks ^■ery ill. 



Now then for accounts." 



The letter concludes with the usual summary of accounts'. We 



' Existing letters show that Tertius Galton's other sons, e.g. Erasmus, although 

 much older than Francis, were at the same time returning equally elaborate accounts 



