Lehrjahre and Wandcrjahre 



143 



The following lettei's provide a more intimate picture of Galton's 

 life at college : 



Oct. 23rd, 1840, Trinity, Cambridge. 

 My dear Father, 



I did not write before, as I wished to hear whether Mr O'Brien' would 

 have me or not, before sending my letter. However I have just learnt that he will and 



1 begin with him on Monday next ; he recommends me not to go over with him notv my 

 old subjects, but to start oft' and read as I can of Differentials and their application to 

 Statics and Dynamics, and after this term to read over again what I have done against 

 my first examination in May by which I am classed. Thanks for your letter received 



2 days since. Port wine not arrived. The communication between the intellectual 

 nucleus of Cambridge and the Boeotian town of Leamington is excessively tardy. 

 I really think that our present economising Government must have made a contract with 

 the carrier for the transmission of the mail-bag, a.s, if the postmaster at Warwick was not 

 seized with an apoplexy and thereby occasioned a delay, your letters take 3 days to get 

 here. Yesterday I had a letter directed to you in my mother's handwriting (the enclosed 

 letter) sent me which must have slept on the road many days. I for a wager any day 

 would undertake to be on the top of the Draoiienfels by Bonn before a letter put in the 

 post at Cambridge at midday, would reach Leamington. I waste paper fearfully, i.e. 

 scribble over both sides of it innumerable x, y's and funny looking triangles. Mrs Hoppit 

 says that : " It's a great comfort to her to have a reading gentleman, because there is 

 then always plenty of stuff to light the fires with." Theodore looks blooming, he bangs up 

 pictures of Cerito'^ in his rooms and talks of the 0-pey-ra. I tea with Boulton tonight ; 

 he is not much altered, but very shy. Talking of tea, please send me some soon, as there 

 are many sloe leaves in the Cambridge. I have proved this by microscopical observation. 



H is very goodnatured and has introduced me to some nice men ; he was officious at 



first, wanting I think to make me as dependent on him as Z. is, but there was then 

 a difference of opinion between us, and now we are great allies. 



Good bye, your affectionate son, Fra.s. Galton. 



The letter i.s followed by the usual accounts, which this time include 

 most of a freshman's needs — -cap and gown, ironmongery, crockery, 

 linen, etc. There are also a few lines on a little strip of paper somewhat 

 characteristic of the man and rather hard on his father. Leonard Horner 

 had clearly written to Tertius Galton praising the character of his son 

 Francis— how we should like that letter now ! — and Tertius had for- 

 warded it to Cambridge. " Now I don't like being soaped ; in that 

 letter there were 3 words or so on the subject of introductions ; why 



' O'Brien was .3rd Wrangler in 1838 and afterwards Professor of Mathematics at 

 the Royal Military Academy. He has given his name to one or two mathematical 

 demonstrations. 



' See The Ingoldshy LegendK, " A Row in an Omnibus (Box)." 



