126 Life and Letters of Francis Galtoii 



So much for business. Went to the Opera last night, Taglioni, last appearance 

 — am quite hoarse with bellowing out "bravo." Aunt Gurney' has been out of town 

 for 3 weeks, just returned. I went to see Courvoisier hung, and was close to the 

 gallows, poor fellow. I went professionally for death by hanging is a medico-legal 

 subject of some importance. 



Tell Delly that I have not seen a scrap of her handwriting for ages and that 

 she must send me a letter. What does she do without her school? I am glad that 

 she is going to Somersetshire [Loxton], it will do her back so much good. Nothing 

 is so bad for health, such as hers is, as a sedentary (lyingdown-in-a-school-all-day) habit 

 of living and one without variation. If she divides her attention between two sets 

 of objects — to both of which she is attached — school and farm — her health will be 

 wonderfully improved, Frampton's pills of health discarded and steel mixtures thrown 

 down the sink. 



My accounts shall be sent by return of post, if you will tell me in your next letter 

 how you would like me to send them. 



Good bye. Your aflfectionate Son, 



Fras. Galton. 

 This is wrapped in an "lie?, a dozen" cover. 



The Paris trip was not destined to come off'. A new direction 

 was to be given to Francis Galton's plans ; but the goal reached was 

 far from the direction indicated at the start. The Wanderlust had 

 seized Francis, although he was little conscious of it, and laboratories 

 and lecture-rooms were incapable of holding him back. 



Monday, July [13], 1840, 17 New St., Spring Gardens. 

 Dear Pater, 



Thanks for letter, I am in a great hurry for the post, so I will send 

 accounts to-morrow. 



Please write an answer and send it with all the speed a penny envelope is 

 capable of. 



Wm Miller is going to Giessen in Germany, to Liebig's Laboratory — Liebig is the 

 1st Chemist (in organic chemistry) in the world. In his Laboratory there is every 

 opportunity for getting on, in addition to the certainty of a knowledge of German 

 being acquired. The terms are very low, not more than £5 for admission, though of 

 course there are many more expenses in the way of tests and other documents. Wm 

 Miller tries to persuade me to go with him. I should like to go. Have you any 

 objection? I write to Hodgson by this post to ask his opinion. Miller is as you know 

 exceedingly talented and will in all probability rise high. My acquaintance with 

 Bowman has proved to be most useful — a similar acquaintance with Miller promises 

 to be so. Liebig's assistance will of course be invaluable to me in after life ; and as 

 his immediate pupil, more especially as I am a foreigner and come with an introduction 

 from Daniell, I shall have every opportunity of acquiring his friendship. Again Daniell 



' Mrs Hudson Gurney : see Plate XLVII. 



