612 Life and Letters of Francis Galton 



The Court, Ghayshott, Haslemere. Octob&r 1G, 1910. 



My dear Milly, I am glad that you are safe home, though it be to a wind-wrecked garden, 

 after so long and adventurous a journey. Did the motor go well? You had, I think, not a little 

 beautiful weather. Lynton I know well, having spent a summer there with Louisa. That 

 wonderful river teems with salmon. They pointed out a pool in it not much bigger than my 

 drawing-room, so far as I recollect, out of which sixteen had been caught in the preceding year. 

 They called it the "Slaughter Pool." It is wonderfully beautiful thereabouts, as you say. I am 

 glad you liked the improvements at Tregeare. When such things really improve a well-known 

 place how charming they are. This is the case with Claverdon, which I shall never see again ! 

 nor any of my old haunts, being so tied up by infirmity. Asthma comes and goes and I have 

 frequent long respites, but it is always en cache, ready to spring. My Kantsaywhere gets on 

 slowly, but I think surely at last. I want the Abbe Sieyes (spelling?)* to put its constitution 

 into the best shape. I find it difficult to evolve a stable one out of nothing. Are your birds 

 beginning to migrate? Ours have gone through various pranks. They seemed to be pairing 

 again, mistaking the fine autumn for next spring. As I write, four of the plumpest of blackbirds 

 are hopping in front of my window. I think it would be nice if they had been 24 and if the 

 cook could make them up in a pie, at the same time putting a complete stop to their singing! 

 Poor Portugal ! The making of a respectable nation out there seems as difficult as that of 

 a silk purse out of a sow's ear. But there may be good stuff left in their most ignorant peasants, 

 though very little in their politicians. I have a Press cutting from New Zealand from which 

 it appears that the Chief Justice, Sir Robert Stout, in his charge to the Grand Jury at the 

 Autumn Sessions in Auckland, advocated the formation of Eugenics Societies, and that much 

 is being done in that way there. I have forwarded the cutting to the Eugenics Education 

 Society for them to keep the ball rolling. 



Ever affectionately, with loves to all, Francis Galton'. 



The Court, Grayshott, Haslemere. October 19, 1910. 



My dear Eva, Your news of the acting is most gratifying. 1 saw in yesterday's paper 

 that there were to be four Rosalinds this week and two of each of the male actors. The purpose 

 is of course to test their relative merits. 



Here is another gratifying incident. A long letter from Lionel Robinson describing how he 

 and his wife had just attended service at St Margaret's, Westminster, where he heard Professor 

 Inge preach on Eugenics. You know that L. Robinson is far from a gushing man but he fairly 

 gushed over the sermon. He says it was "not only bold and eloquent but carried reflection if 

 not conviction to every listener." Though he " had heard him on a previous occasion he never 

 seemed so clear and attractive as then. He made no shifty evasions and spoke with startling 

 clearness on many points which preachers as a rule evade or dilute beyond taste. My wife was 

 delighted with the sermon," etc., etc. You shall see his letter. I will write to him. 



Dakyns came yesterday and asked after you. He will gladly revise the MS. of Kantsatoah 

 which in a provisional sense has been finished. But I must interpolate some pages before 

 sending it to the typist. Thus far, it would fill 17 pages of a magazine like the Nineteenth 

 Century. 



It is now sunny but uncertain. Whether it be fit for me to do more than trundle will be 

 doubtful until after lunch. Yes, if it can easily be managed by the servants, ask Mrs Stanley 

 Butler and Bob for the night as you propose. I am so glad you approve of Louisa and 

 Mrs Phillips. Your bottle of Chianti was very characteristic! 



Ever affectionately, Francis Galton. 



Miss Jones is excellent, gives no trouble and writes from my dictation with almost short- 

 hand swiftness. 



* Galton is clearly referring to Comte E. J. Sieyes, the man trained as a Cleric, but he was 

 one who had never preached nor confessed. He was the great constitution framer at the time 

 of the French Revolution and after. 



