130 Life and Letters of Francis Galton 



I found the Sentinel standing with a tixed bayonet. I however kept still and soon went 

 to *Uvp. Set off at 3 in the morning (Sunday) and got to Giessen at i\ p.m., tooled 

 to the inn and on inquiry fortunately found Miller there. In the evening walked about 

 the town rtMmd the ramparts etc.. etc. Miller introduced nie to Playfair, late chemical 

 assistant to Gkaham, to Gilbert, also assistant to Thompson, and to Herr Bettenbacher, 

 a yi«ina professor, all studying at Liebig's. Went to bed, slept gloriously, up at 6 

 this BMrnin^ went ta the Laboratory, heard Liebig lecture, saw all that was going 

 OM. Mftde •nrmi^genMnts with the German Professor for daily lessons. My present plans 

 are as foUovs. Work hard at Giessen for a fortnight till I can speak it tolerably. 

 I diall then expect letters from you with Berlin, Dresden or Hanover introductions ; 

 go to one of these places, and mix in society and lark for 3 weeks at least, and shall 

 be in fingjand on the 14th fA September. — Please write to Hodgson and tell him about 

 my ahermtkm mentioning that Miller thinks it the best thing that I can do. Write an 

 answer please by retsm of post and another letto- with introductions (if you approve 

 of the plan) as soon as jtm can get them. 



I am most oooifartahfy ho«sed etc, eating, drinking and sleeping cost 3 shillings 

 a day. I dine with the chemiealims at 6 o'dlock. Tbese are great top-sawyers amongst 

 them. We always ^>eak German. I am much vexed at losing my Chemistry, but 

 I shall gain tax note fay stewii^ away at German, than I should had I worked at 

 CAewstiy, lidi^s anangeaHVfo beii^ as I had expected. I have enjoyed myself 

 MMUMiely, 



Good fa^ T' afeetionate Son, 



Fkas. G.^ltox. 



MiDer and myadf are great dman and we talk German to each otho- most 

 ■wjnt e nigihly . I have no donbt that the lingutB at tibe table dlWtte wiO have much 

 dBaenaaoB on what the to^ne is in which we co m er se . 



Of the men mentioned in this letter several reached distinction 

 lafctf. William Allen ililler — also a Birmingham (General Hospital 

 man — became Professor of Chemistrv at Kind's College. London, and 

 lata*, espeoally in conjunction with Huggins, made noteworthy chemical 

 investigations Plajrfeur, afterward Lord Playtair, was well-known to 

 cor genefatkffii both as dtemist and politician. Bat the mood of Francis 

 Galton was at this moment neither for research nor intellectual society. 

 He could not possibly have settled down to dith^- chemical analysis or 

 " stewing at German." The roving Inst had soaed him and it was to 

 bold him for many yeats, until indeed it should itself become sab- 

 aerrient to his love of soentifie inquiry. 



