330 Life and Letters of Francis Gallon 



subject to Sir Edward Brabrook who is the chief working authority of the R. Soc. of Literature, 

 to enlist his interest and to get advice. Geikie and I did form a provisional scheme of action. 



This house, Quedley, really is not cold. Nettleship, who was here yesterday, and whom I asked, 

 found no fault with its situation. The valley fogs do not as yet reach it, while I hear great 

 complaints of cold and fog at Hindhead. In fact I really think I have fallen upon the most 

 suitable house in the whole place, for my particular needs. 



T am now busy, as long as I can work, day by day, over my " Reminiscences." It is curious 

 how the sense of " past " disappears. All my life from 5 years to 85 is beginning to seem to 

 me "present," like a picture on the wall. Ever affectionately yours, Francis Galton. 



7, Well Road, Hampstead, N.W. December 30, 1907. 



My dear Francis Galton, I am very glad my alarm about the cold at Quedley is false. 

 I certainly did not mean to disturb you needlessly. It was only my short experience of the 

 valley some way above Shottermill where we had a house for four weeks. 



I should rather like to talk over the point of scientific literature with you, because I think 

 there is danger of two distinct factors being confused. In the first place every paper ought to 

 be written in lucid English. With this I am the more in sympathy, because I realise to the 

 full my own difficulties in this matter. We want far more essay writing from the science student, 

 although this must not be driven to the Oxford extent of making the discovery of fitting words 

 the main occupation of the student. On the other hand every science must have its special term- 

 inology, and its symbolism and short-hand. These can be interpreted into long-hand and simple 

 English in popular lectures and reviews, but in the scientific memoir written for a scientificly 

 educated public the terminology and short-hand of the special branch of science concerned must be 

 preserved for the brevity and lucidity they provide. You might, I think, as well demand of 

 a mathematician a definition and explanation of dy/dx in a Phil. Trans, paper as ask in a 

 scientific memoir on heredity for an explanation of the fundamental equations 



(DD) x (RE) = 2 (DR), (DR) x (DR) = (DD) + 2 (DR) + (RE) 



of Mendelism. This symbolism is now known and accepted by all students of heredity whether 

 they believe in Mendelian theory or not. Similarly such terms as " somatic " and "gametic " are 

 to be found in every biological textbook. When therefore the Tribune cites such things as these 

 and calls them "jargon," it is merely stating that its writer was incompetent to review the 

 memoir because he was ignorant of the terminology of the branch of science he was discussing. 



This is quite apart from the possible want of lucidity of the English, or from any demand 

 for a popular exposition of the results reached by more elaborate memoirs. These may be 

 desiderata, but they are not to be confused with a mere absence of scientific terminology : and 

 I think we have now reached an epoch when the popular exposition of heredity should be taken 

 more fully into consideration. 



In February it will be a year since our regime began, and the appointments of Mr Heron 

 and Miss Elderton will come up for consideration, as well as my own relations to the Laboratory. 

 I feel my own limitations very keenly, and it might well be that other supervision would give 

 the scheme more go and a more popular character. I need hardly say that I am ready to fall 

 in entirely with your views, either to make way for a man of more leisure and activity, perhaps 

 more in touch with the outside world, or to go on as we have been doing for one year more. 

 As for the Galton Fellow and Scholar, I think we ought to give them some notion as to the 

 future. The Fellow has done good work, but has not at present quite as much initiative as 

 I shall look for later; the Scholar has much impressed me, and is even more able than I antici- 

 pated. Taking the difficulty of finding new and efficient workers, I think we shall not readily 

 find better instruments even if we agree that they need a more active guide. If you agree, there 

 ought to be some report to the University and perhaps a meeting of your Committee. I will very 

 readily draft something, if you will quite frankly send your views on the immediate future. 

 Whatever is done now ought to be done so as to terminate definitely in February, 1909. 

 I think the present people are too good for one year only of work, but they ought to understand 

 that you may want to remodel the Laboratory scheme in 1909. 



Have you considered the possibility of resuming the reins yourself this year 1 I only came 

 in default of any obviously better person to supply your place, and I am only a locum tenens 

 ready to move on when you say the word. Affectionately, Karl Pearson. 



