17ti 



Life ami LvUtrx of Fmiiris (ialttni 



the Pr»'siiU'nt« nf tin- wvcral s»<ftii>nK of tlit- HritiKh AsMM-iHtioii, furin a ImmIj- of little U-.'-s tlian 

 two huii(li-fd iiu'ii, now livin;;, n i-oiiKidcmltU' |Mirli<iii of whom Mtjiiiil in niort- timn one of tlie 

 hIkivo cat«'j;orii>s. (Hlur nu'tlio<ls of seltftion give fifty or a huntlreil HiUlilional names. 



Falling; as you ilo within the range of this inquiry, may 1 ahk of you the favour of furnishing 

 niP with infonnationt If you shouhl desire any portions of what you may send to be considennl 

 aa privato^ they will he use<l in no other way tlmn to afford material for general conclusions. 



I send herewith a schedule which contains the ({uestious to which I am seeking i-eplies. 



, Fkancis Galton. 



It would not I think be indiscreet to give in two notable instances the 

 replies as to "special talents, as for mechanism, practical business habits, 

 music, jnatheraatics, etc.," also those on hereditary characteristics. 



HUXLEY. 



Strong natural talent for meehanism, musie 

 and art in general, but all wasted and unculti- 

 vated. Believe I am reckoned a good chairman 

 of a meeting. T always find that I acquire in- 

 fluence, generally more than I want, in Ixjdies 

 of men and that administrative and other work 

 gravitates to ray hands. Impulsive and apt to 

 rush into all sorts of un<iertaking8 without 

 counting cost or responsibility. I»ve my friends 

 and hate my enemies cordially. Entire confi- 

 dence in tho.se whom I trust at all and much 

 indifference towards the rest of the world. A 

 profound religious tendency capable of fanati- 

 cism, but tempere<l by no less profound theo- 

 logical scepticism. No love of the marvellous as 

 such, intense desire to know facts; no very in- 

 tense love of my pursuits at present, but very 

 strong affection for philosophical and social 

 problems; strong constructive imagination; 

 small foresight; no particular public spirit; dis- 

 interestedness arising from an entire want of 

 care for the rewards and honours most men 

 seek, vanity too big to b«! »itisfied by them. 



Father. A gootl musician and poss(».sed a 

 curious talent for drawing heads with pen and 

 ink '. Impulsive but kindly ; nothing otherwi.se 

 remarkable. 



Motli^. Very impulsive and strong partizttn ; 

 strong affections, marked religiosity and a con- 

 structive imagination worthy of a novelist. 

 Phj'sically and nientully I am far more like my 

 mother than my father. Family generally, hot 

 temper and tenacity of purpose; considerable 

 power of expression in writing and speaking. 



Down, Bkckenuam, Kent. May 28th, 1873. 



My DEAK Galton, I have filled up the answers as well as I could; but it is simply im- 

 possible for me to estimate the degrees. 



My mother died during my infancy and I can say hardly anything about her. It is so 

 impomible for anyone to judge about his own character that George first wrote several of the 

 answers about myself, but I have adopted only those which seem to me true. 



' Inherited by his son: see Life, Vol. i, p. 4. The writer possesses a number of sketches by 

 T. H. Huxley drawn on blotting paper and scraps of paper, probably at a committee meeting. 



OAR WIN. 



(Special talents, none, except for business, as 

 evince«l by keeping accounts, l>eing i-egular in 

 correspondence, and investing money very well ; 

 very methodical in my habits. Steadiness; 

 great curiosity about facts, and their meaning; 

 some love of the new and marvellous. 



Somewhat nervous temperament, energy of 

 body shown by much activity, and whilst I had 

 health, power of resisting fatigue. An early 

 riser in the morning. Energy of mind .shown 

 by vigorous and long-continued work on the 

 same subject, as 20 years on the Origin of 

 Species and 9 years on Cirripedia. Memory 

 bad for dates or learning by rote; but good in 

 retaining a general or vague recollection of 

 many facts. Very studious, but not large ac- 

 quirements. I think fairly independently, but 

 I can give no instances. I. gave up common 

 religious belief alnH>st independently from my 

 own reflections. I suppose that I have shown 

 originality in science, as I have made discoveries 

 with regard to common objects. Liberal or 

 radical in politics. Health good when young — 

 bad for last 33 years. 



Father. Practical business habits; made a 

 Urge fortune and incurred no losses. Strong 

 social affection and great sympathy with the 

 pleasures of others; sceptical as to new things; 

 curious as to facts; great foresight; not much 

 public spirit; griiut generosity in giving away 

 money and assistance. Freethinker in religious 

 matters, great power of endurance. 



Slather. Said to have been very agreeable in 

 conversation. 



