CHAPTER YII 



THE REAWAKENING: SCIENTIFIC EXPLORATION 



In the absence of records for the period 1844-9 we are unable 

 to trace the outside influences, if any, which again stirred Galton's 

 latent scientific tastes, awakening once more those instincts for the 

 production of work of social value, which for six years had been lying 

 fallow. We do not suggest that these years were without any profit 

 for Galton's ultimate career. The accumulation of experience — how- 

 ever apparently aimless — is always capital of a final interest-bearing 

 value to the man who has by heredity a receptive mind and an unusual 

 power of storing observation. The knowledge gained hap-hazard in 

 the Soudan and Syria, the pursuit of grouse on the Scottish and York- 

 shire moors', the shooting of seals in the Hebrides, the observation of 

 bird and beast, the ready presence of mind, which the hunting field 

 encourages", the knowledge of human motive and human weakness 

 in the gambling, wine-loving, tale-capping' set of the Hunt Club at 

 Leamington, whose typical representatives were the Jack Myttons, 

 father and son*, — all these experiences were not without profit in later 

 life. Even their value in African travel was not to be despised ; it is 

 only their incongruity with the youth of 1840 and the man of 1850, 



' Well for Galton that it was before the days of the modern " drive " ! 



' In later years Galton with characteristic modesty and the love of a joke even at 

 his own expense, would say that he had learnt by experience to reduce falling off to a 

 fine art. 



' The relief at hearing the simple truth told in simple words was, Galton once 

 remarked, one of the new and pleasurable experiences associated with the family circle 

 which his marriage introduced him to. 



* The life of Jack Mytton, Senior, has been written by " Nimrod " (J. C. Apperley) 

 under the title : The Life of John Mytton Esq., oj Halston, Shropshire, with his Hunting, 

 Racing, Shooting, Driving and Extravagant Exploits (with colour illustrations by Aiken 

 and Rawlins). Jack Mytton, Junior, inherited his father's recklessness ; he also got 

 through a fortune and died prematurely. "There was no question of his ability or power 

 over others," wrote Galton in his Memories, p. 110. 



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