Eugenics as a Creed and the Last Decade of Galton's Life 361 



of incapable citizens." But only an historian could do that and the Eugenics Laboratory is 

 hardly the place for it. I have no comment other than complete acquiescence with your 

 programme. 



Miss Elderton comes here for a week-end on January 30th (I think), so I shall hear many 

 details from her as to what is going on. I am glad that your lumbago, which you have borne 

 so heroically*, is better, though maybe tins cold snap of weather has been an enemy to you. 

 Seasonable weather !! Stuff and nonsense — Give me the temperature of an incubator ! 



I can't think " Germinal Vitality " worth serious consideration. It would require much 

 evidence from horticulturists and breeders to make it at all probable. His evidence is very lax. 



I am very glad that St Andrews has asked Heron and that he will lecture. One of the 

 professors there, Stanley Butler (of physics and mathematics), is a nephew of my Wife's and writes 

 me to-day a letter practically about my book but evidently not forgetful of Eugenics. The white 

 ducks of Lady Phillimore had not red eyes so far as I noticed. Later. I had intended after 

 getting through arrears of writing, to send a revised statement of my problem, but find myself 

 too tired, so must postpone. Ever affectionately, Francis Galton. 



(15) Events and Correspondence o/1909. In the pressure of work upon 

 me during the years 1905-1909 I had scarcely noted the changes taking 

 place in Francis Galton ; they were gradual, and so much of the old fire and 

 suggestiveness remained that I did not fully realise how he was failing, 

 though the failure was far more rapid on the physical than the mental side. 

 Re-reading the letters that passed between us in the year 1909, it now seems 

 to me clear that he passed another milestone on the decurrent highway of 

 old age in his 87th year. The only published writings of Galton that I can 

 find for this year are the following : 



(i) A brief Introductory Note to the Treasury of Human Inheritance. 

 The letters of this year will indicate how keen was Galton's interest in this 

 work. It was designed on a comprehensive scale, and was intended to provide 

 data for the measurement of all phases of human heredity by pedigrees 

 indicating the transmission of ability, mental superiority and defect, physical 

 and pathological characters in stirps. It has now, 1930, reached its third large 

 quarto volume, but the cost of the photographic and pedigree plates and 

 the need of funds to pay contributors have sadly hampered its progress. 

 Occupation could be found in this direction for at least half-a-dozen 

 thoroughly trained workers, but while endowments are always forthcoming 

 for the maintenance of the unsound, there is so far little enthusiasm for 

 building up our knowledge of why the unsound come into existence f. The 

 idea of the Treasury was not Galton's, but it met with his full sympathy, 

 and the early costs of publication were defrayed from his grant to the 

 University of London. His prefatory note runs thus : 



" The Inheritance of Qualities in Families lies at the basis of the Science of Eugenics, and 

 though much is known about it a much fuller inquiry is urgently needed than has hitherto been 

 possible. Goodness and badness of physique, constitution and abilities are distributed in similar 

 proportions among individuals in successive generations, but the chain-work of hereditary in- 

 fluences through which this is effected has been most inadequately recorded. The facts of Family 



* Fortunately Galton was not present to hear his future biographer's language ! 



t Honourable exception must be made of the Committee for Medical Research, which has 

 by its grants enabled the Galton Laboratory to carry forward the section of the Treasury 

 dealing with the inheritance of eye-defects. 



p G in 46 



