568 Life and Letters of Francis Gallon 



the Order, and a good library, besides some idea of Loyola's own surroundings. Bat there is 

 nothing of that. Plenty of gorgeousness in marble and gold, small taste, and nothing of graphic 

 historical value. However the drive, etc., was most picturesque and to-day the cold rain has 

 recommenced. I got a ring of no value, which may do for Amy, with the Spanish equivalent 

 to Souvenir op Loyola upon it. It shall be sent with the brooch. I am writing on my knee 

 in a bad light, the morning is so dark and dreary. We sleep to-night at St Jean de Luz. 



Ever affectionately, Francis Galton. 

 I don't know where to tell you to send your next letter to me, so don't write at all ! 



42, Rutland Gate, S.W. April 7, 1906. 

 (I enclose the German pamphlet of which I wrote and promised to send.) 

 Dearest Milly, It is so pleasant feeling in one's own clean home again and receiving 

 smiling welcome. We had an excellent passage cross-channel and all is well, except that Eva 

 has a rather bad head cold and keeps half this day in bed. I send the brooch and ring; also, 

 I have ordered to be sent to you, from me, Skeat's Concise Ethnological Dictionary which is the 

 book you refer to and is I find a capital book to lie about, at hand when wanted. You praise 

 me too much in your letters, please don't any more. This reminds me of a true story of the 

 present Lord Thring when he was Parliamentary draughtsman and had in consequence to 

 discuss familiarly the terms of proposed Government bills with the Cabinet Ministers who 

 introduced them. He was very outspoken and uncourteous-like and talked of everybody as 

 d...d fools. Bob Lowe one day said to him "Now, Thring, we will understand once for all 

 that everybody except ourselves are d...d fools, so you need not trouble to repeat it, and let 

 us stick to business." By the way, Lord Thring told me in answer to a question, that of all 

 the many Cabinet Ministers with whom he had worked, he rated Gladstone and Disraeli as 

 quite the first. He said they were of different "clay" from other men. On the first occasion, ho 

 put Ayrton third, but in later years when I asked him to verify my recollections, he did not 

 particularly dwell on Ayrton. We did not do much sight-seeing in Paris, only Notre-Dame, 

 Sainte Chapelle, Louvre twice, etc. Eva quite thinks our unpretentious hotel would suit you. 

 You have to give three days' notice before leaving and would of course have to arrange before 

 coming, and not take your chance on arrival. I have seen but few friends yet, being busy. 

 One was William Darwin just now, when for the first lime I saw the Noteworthy Families 

 book, Murray having omitted to send me a copy, knowing I was abroad. I tea-ed yesterday 

 with Miss Baden-Powell (who does the honours of the house), having just found a card asking 

 me to come. There is a wonderful collection of curiosities, Ashanti as well as S. African. She 

 had a wire gauze thing like this 



with a cross-bar to hold it by to put tea in, and to lower it into the teapot. It is taken out 

 after standing long enough. She got hers at the Army and Navy Stores. It seems a capital 

 plan. I have just got such a pretty card of invitation to a golden wedding, with portraits of 

 the pair 50 years ago and now. It is from Sir William and Lady Crookes. Also, a still more 

 ornate and grand card, engrossed in black and red letters, of invitation to a 400th centenary 

 of Aberdeen University in September. It is all in Latin and drawn up in a very complimentary 

 form. But I can't accept, it is too far and bustly. Sir George Darwin has gone to Philadelphia, 

 as the representative of England at the forthcoming Benjamin Franklin commemoration. His 

 wife is a descendant, great-grand-daughter, of a fellow-worker of Franklin. So it is very 

 appropriate. Ever affectionately, with many loves, Francis Galton. 



42, Rutland Gate, S.W. April 17, 1906. 



Dearest Milly, I am glad you like the brooch and Skeat, and Amy her very unpretentious 



but characteristic ring. The sudden death of my — I might almost say colleague and — friend, 



Professor Weldon, has been a great grief and will be a serious scientific loss to my other colleague 



and friend, Professor Karl Pearson. Weldon came to London alone for a night or two, while 



