

Characterisation, especially by Letters 551 



Enclosure in letter above: 



Trinity College, Cambridge. October 27, 1905. 



My dear Frank, The Council is over and I am desired in the name of the College to thank 

 you warmly for this beautiful gift and to say that it is gratefully accepted. It is left to the 

 Memorials Committee, of which I am Chairman, to consider the question of where it is to be 

 hung, and to report to the Council. We are now arranging for a very early meeting of the 

 Memorials Committee. You know how very earnestly I hope that this noble portrait will soon 

 be on the wall of our Hall. Always affectionately yours, (signed) H. Montagu Butler. 



42, Rutland Gate, S.W. October 28, 1905. 



Dearest Milly, So glad that you would like to have James's book. It shall be ordered this 

 morning, but, being Saturday, you will hardly get it before we are off to Pau on Thursday 

 morning next. I have had a stern reminder not to delay, in the form of a sudden severe 

 shivering for nearly a couple of hours on Wednesday morning. The amplitude of the shiver was 

 remarkable and interesting; my hands shook through a range of fully 7 if not 8 inches. The 

 doctor sent me to bed at once (two days before yesterday) on fever diet ; yesterday I was much 

 better and to-day I may leave my room a little. He promises that I shall be fit to go on Thursday 

 and recommends it. So much for self. You recollect my picture by Charles Furse? The Master 

 of Trinity saw it and wrote me a letter urging me to send a copy of it to Trinity College, 

 Cambridge, where he felt morally sure it would be accepted by the Council of Fellows. Asking 

 elsewhere, I heard the same thing, so I had an excellent copy of it made by Frank Carter, and 

 sent it for acceptance. The Council met yesterday and accepted it " warmly " and " gratefully." 

 The place where it is to be hung is referred to the Memorials Committee and will, as I am told, 

 in all probability be in the Great Hall, alongside many of my betters. It is a great honour any- 

 how. I could never have dreamed in old times that they would elect me an Honorary Fellow 

 and care to have my portrait. What a nuisance your Range must be. It might have occurred 

 in bitter weather, so that trifling favour is something to be grateful for. You don't speak of the 

 poor horse. If you want a nice animal book, get from Mudie The Call of the Wild, by Jack 

 London. It has had an immense sale. I read it through yesterday from cover to cover, almost 

 without stopping. They tell me that good as Hotel Gassion is, a new one, H. du Palais et du 

 Beau Si-jour, is better. It is quieter, has a large sunny balcony, and the same south view. 

 Moreover it is next door to the Winter Garden; so 1 have written for particulars which should 

 arrive to-night. I will recollect about the " K" in Acland. Thanks for the introduction promised. 

 I am living in hope that I may get the revise of my little book in page all sent to me to-night. 

 If not, before I start, I must delegate the final look over and the index making to Schuster, 

 but I should like to have a share in it. Always, at the very last, there is some difficulty to be 

 settled. I think now, what with Schuster's willing help, Miss Elderton's business-like ways and 

 the Advisory Committee, the Eugenics Office ought to run on its own legs while I am away. 

 I will write again, at least a post-card, before we are off. But I dare not give a previous day to 

 Leamington. Every ounce of strength must be reserved for the Pau journey, but Eva will go 

 to Bessy for a day. Ever affectionately, Francis Galton. 



Hotel Gassion, Pau, France. November 14, 1905. 



Dearest Milly, At last, we are all again in normal condition and comfortably housed, 

 with the splendid view (when we can see it) right in front of our windows in the very middle 

 of the second story. I have not yet seen Mr Acland-Troite, on whom I called on Friday, leaving 

 a letter explaining and saying we were about to change quarters. But I went to his church on 

 Sunday. There were two clergymen and I do not yet know which was he. 

 How the forms of Christendom do change! A Rip van Winkle, sent to sleep 

 at the time when I was young, would have been bewildered at this service and 

 have thought he must have mistaken the building. Do clerks still exist? The 

 three decker arrangement of my youth has wholly disappeared, and one never 

 sees the Royal Arms. It always used to be there with the White Horse of 

 Hanover in its middle and often quartering the fleurs-de-lis of France. I recollect it gave me 

 quite a shock, when I first went to Cambridge, hearing the choristers singing in their white 

 surplices, but I had never, I think, at that time been at an English Cathedral Service. We 



