Characterisation, especially by Letters 593 



Meadow Cottage, Brockham Green, Betchworth, Surrey. February 7, 1909. 

 Dearest MlLLT, Erasmus is, I believe, as comfortable as the case permits, and not in pain 

 at all when still. I have not the least notion how soon he will be allowed to sit up and to 

 attempt getting about in the smallest degree. It is difficult to see how his future life can be 

 best arranged. Anyhow he has many comforts at the Regent Hotel which he could not easily 

 meet with elsewhere, so at the worst he could remain where he is. Edward anil M. L. were to 

 have been with us to-day, but of course their plans had to be changed. The end of our stay 

 approaches. The donkey and cart go to their home to-morrow and I part with them without 

 much regret. Too much of a donkey like that would do permanent injury to one's temper, and 

 make one revel in imaginary thwackings, pokes and imprecations. I have renewed a long- 

 lapsed acquaintance here with the widow of a college chum, Mrs Ray, and find it very pleasant. 

 There are many very nice people about here, as everywhere in England. My lease is out on 

 March 1, but we shall leave a little earlier and go to Lyndhurst (or thereabouts) for March. 

 In mv walking tours of long ago, I came to the conclusion that the New Forest was the best 

 place to find shelter from the cold March winds and to get sunshine. Besides, Lyndhurst is 

 close to Eva's brother, the clergyman, who has a singularly pretty vicarage. You have not of 

 late mentioned Hugh, your clergyman son. Doubtless no news is good news. The Eugenics 

 Education Society is about (in a month or two) to publish a quarterly shilling publication, 

 the Eugenics Review. There is a good Editorial Committee and it may be a success. I have 

 just written a page or two as a "send off." Also I am again busy about the Feeble-Minded, 

 being asked to help in a publication with Sir E. Fry and one or two others. This may possibly 

 not come off. I have got the immense Report, eight folio volumes, of as yet unmeasured 

 weight but certainly equal to that of a good-sized, well-packed portmanteau, out of which a few 

 facts have to be gleaned. Best loves to you all. I heard of Guy at Claverdon, and hope that 

 Amy has by now shaken off her cold. Ever affectionately, Francis Galton. 



Meadow Cottage, Brockham Green, Bf.tchworth, Surrey. February 15, 1909. 

 Dearest Miixy, Excuse this paper. I am writing before breakfast, and all of my proper 

 letter-paper is finished. This squared paper is very convenient for my usual work and I always 

 use it for that. Erasmus seems very comfortable, all things considered, and will I am sure find 

 many compensations in the life of an invalid with attentive valet and muses and plenty of 

 friends. I hear of him from many quarters and all is to the same purport. The end of our stay 

 is in sight, next Saturday will be our last Saturday lure. I am in treaty for rooms in the Crown 

 Hotel, Lyndhurst, which Eva went down to see. Though we are one hour S.W. of London, the 

 only practicable way of reaching Lyndhurst by train is to go back to London and change there. 

 It may prove more convenient by far to motor direct, and good motors are to be hired in 

 Dorking. We shall see. A merit of the New Forest in March, which I realised in old walking 

 davs, is that the bare trees check much of the March winds and practically nothing of the 

 March sun. Besides, Eva's brother, Walter, has his living two miles off. How the days roll on! 

 I shall be 87 to-morrow and find on consulting Whitaker's Almanack that my "Expectation 

 of Life" is now reduced to three yearn. In other words, that I am as likely to die before as after 

 the age of 90. Also, that only one male out of every 50 reaches that age. Females are longer lived. 



i have got off two little bits of work this week. One is the contribution I spoke of to the 

 Cambridge hand-book, as it were (I don't know its title), to the Report on the Feeble-Minded. 

 If they send me off-prints when it is printed, I will send you one. Also, I will send you the first 

 number of the Eugenics Review, when it comes out in mid-April, that you (and 1 ) may see 

 whether it promises well. Heron (the "Research Fellow") has been week-ending here, and 

 brings good reports of the progress of heavy work at the Eugenics Laboratory. Once again, 

 about Erasmus' broken neck of the thigh bone. It is broken just below the cartilage : 



a common accident in old people. The fracture f\_»yf: never mends but the broken end 



forms itself into a false joint, that is not wholly 1 fy£ useless. I suppose that all inflamma- 

 tion has now subsided, so lie can be moved, // with much care, without pain. 



Sucli a capable man tea-ed here yesterday ! // Col. Melville, a doctor, the head of the 



Central Army Institution for tropical diset (chiefly). It is in fact what Netley 



I to be under I >r (.' Sir) E. A. Parkes and is situated close by the Tate < lallery at Millbank. 

 Heron is to go to bis laboratory this week, to see how far the information collected there will 

 be useful to the Eugenics Laboratory. He offers it freely to us. Guy knew Netley well, but 



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