Eugenics as a Creed and the Last Decade of Galton's Life 315 



42, Rutland Gate, S.W. April 22, 1907. 



Mv dear Karl Pearson, I telegraphed in order to save a post It was purely a 



blunder of mine about Cambridge instead of Oxford for your second lecture. I wish you all 

 success on May 19th and again on May 21st. Have you any proof that the ultimate atoms are 

 unlike, other than by inference? But I shall see what you say in good time. Of course it is 

 most probable that they differ. I think my lecture will not trespass at all on yours except as 

 far as the title ma}' suggest. You are very good about the Albinism and the Eugenics publica- 

 tions. I like to feel that the Eugenics Laboratory is a sort of annexe to your Biometric Laboratory, 

 using the same methods and working with similar precision under your guidance. I do not a 

 bit understand the Royal Soe. Proc. memoir just out on the constitutional peculiarities of albinos. 

 Anyhow it seems that their blood behaves differently in the presence of "proteids" — a mere 

 name to me — from that of pigmented people. (Can people of piggish minds be properly styled 

 pig-mentedl I crave pardon!!) Ever affectionately yours, Francis Galton. 



[Hampstead.] May 3, 1907. 



My dear Francis Galton, Here at last is my lecture typed by Miss Dickens's Office ! It was 

 hastily written and the tables have yet to be added. I should esteem it a great favour if you 

 would write on the blank facing sheets any suggestions that occur to you, and let me have back 

 the copy for emendation. I fear the whole thing is very laboured, but I am writing under much 

 pressure and feel a good deal the want of a holiday. I hope all goes well with you. 



Affectionately, Karl Pearson. 



Our letters for the next fortnight chiefly cover the last stages of the 

 final drafting of the Weldon Prize regulations. Then they touch again the 

 Oxford lectures. I will cite first the letter which reports my own lecture. 



7, Well Road, Hampstead, N.W. May 29, 1907. 



My dear Francis Galton, I think you may care to hear how my Oxford campaign has 

 passed off. My lecture on Friday was fairly well attended. It was in Balliol Hall, and I soon 

 found that I must throw up my manuscript and take to talking. Of course this made me slip 

 many points, but that won't so much matter as the lecture is to be printed. On Saturday I went 

 through the mice with Mrs Weldon, had a talk with Schuster about his brain-work, and wrote 

 about half my lecture for Sunday. That was given in Magdalen Summer Common Room to the 

 Philosophical Club. The members seemed to me mostly groping in the field of obscure defini- 

 tions. The metaphysicians did not understand me, and the few science folk present were hostile. 

 They could not grasp how much wider the correlation category is than the causal. However, 

 I think T did some good, although these Oxford dons did not impress me as a group of very 

 clear and powerful minds*. It was quite different when I faced in January the Cambridge 

 mathematical lecturers — then one felt in the presence of men of superior intellectual power, and 

 was rather ashamed of oneself. I hope at any rate I have done some Baptist work, and you will 

 find the way straightened. They know now, or ought to, what Eugenics signifies and what the 

 word correlation denotes. I had an interview with the Vice-Chancellor and hope the Weldon 

 memorial will shortly now be settled. I trust this bitterly cold weather will not get a hold on 

 you ; it makes me at times feel very incapable and inert. I hope your lecture has got written 

 without too much effort. 1 hear it is to be given in the Sheldonian Theatre, which, I fear, will 

 want more volume of sound than Balliol Hall. Always affectionately, Karl Pearson. 



The following letters deal with Galton's lecture. 



42, Rutland Gate, S.W. May 25, 1907. 



My dear Karl Pearson, Here is my lecture, but without the 9 diagrams on one page, 

 and without the references to them in the text. They have been redrawn and are being 

 "processed." I send them thus as there is not too much time. Any suggestions in the text 

 would be most welcome. Ever affectionately yours, Francis Galton. 



* Looking back on the discussion now, I think we were really speaking different tongues, 

 wherein the same words carry different atmospheres. 



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