Lehrjahre and Wanderjahre 161 



party has had in Devonshire we find that we have had the fewer rainy days. This of 

 course does not include misty days. I have been deluded enough lately to climb 

 mountains to see the sunrise, it is certainly the best regime that I know to cure romance. 

 I for my part never felt less spiritual or more corporeal than I did when I got to the 

 bottom of them. I had a long walk in that manner the day before yesterday. 

 Happening to look out of the window aVjout 12 after reading, I found that it was the 

 most beautiful night that we had yet had. So pocketing my whisky flask and putting 

 on my pea-coat and plaid, I walked to the town and got up a party to go, slept under a 

 table for 35 minutes, drank some whisky punch, and then walked up Blencathra, 

 ignominiously called " Saddleback," stayed on the top about an hour and then got back 

 by 7 a.m., it was about 16 miles. As the morning was splendid I then got up another 

 party for Ennerdale. Then slept 25 minutes and walked off, and we walked the whole 

 day, up two high mountains. I got back by 8| p.m. and after all I really was not so 

 very tired. Keswick is at the present moment all wrestling and dancing. The champion 

 in the former has been declared, having thrown some 10 opponents, but even he is now 

 taken off his legs under the influence of brandy and water. 



In the dancing department of course I assisted, and had for my partner a damsel 

 whom I had observed in the morning employed in the unpoetical position of all fours, 

 scrubbing stone steps with great diligence. — I have today committed a most dreadful 

 ofifence in the eye of the law. I happened to be walking in a field when I saw a bull 

 looking intensely ferocious, so I picked up a stoue of a size corresponding to my fears 

 which was therefore very large. Thus armed I ran to the nearest gate for escape ; when 

 up jumped a hare. All thoughts of the Game Laws vanished, as also of the bull. 

 I threw the stone with a most lucky aim, and knocked the gentleman over and then 

 I soon got over the gate and gave him the coup-de-grace with my shillelah. I shall eat 

 him tomorrow or the next day. We are getting very dull ; we read the Times through, 

 advertisements and all everyday, and often ask for the catalogue of the circidating 

 library. Under these circumstances. Good bye and believe me ever 



Your affectionate son, Fras. Galton. 



The letters to Tertins from Keswick cease with this date. The 

 Galtons were staying at No. 9 on the Chff [N.g. cUff of Francis's letter : 

 see p. 158], Scarborough, and Emma Galton states in her diary that 

 on Sept. 3 she rode from Castle Howard Park to the Lakes. Tertius 

 Galton was fond of riding expeditions with his daughters, and he 

 probably took a chill on this occasion. But we have no details of the 

 illness at Keswick. The party got home to Leamington on Sept. 21, 

 and on Sept. 26, Miss Galton records in her diary " Papa very ill 

 indeed." Francis Galton, in the " annual register " of his life, speaks 

 of his father's first serious illness occurring at Keswick. Doubtless much 

 help was given by the Gurneys at Keswick, for we find from this time 

 the intimacy between Gurneys and Galtons extended and visits are 

 paid to Keswick as well as to St James's Square. 



p. G. 21 



