390 Life and Letters of Francis Qalton 



losses, but a general sort of neuralgia in the jaw, which passes from one tooth to a second and 

 hardly allows itself to get fixed. Then I have set myself too big a task with this albinism 

 monograph. I cannot get it done, and have spent most of my vacation over the geographical 

 chapter. I am still on the African section although Asia and Australasia have gone to press. 

 It is reaching too large proportions already, and the Piebalds, Heredity and Statistics chapters 

 are yet undone. I find on measuring up the map that Weybridge is beyond my cycling powers. 

 I should like to induce a motoring neighbour to carry me across, but he has not given me a 

 chance yet of leading him to an offer ! He keeps us, however, alive with a flow of guests. 

 Among the last were Professor Turner and his wife from Oxford. My bairns have learnt to 

 cycle and I have gone short runs with them along the old Peppard lanes, but they will soon 

 outride my distance. We had a very pleasant day in Winchester to see Egon's new surround- 

 ings. I was immensely struck with the beauty of the College and hope his life there will be 

 a happy one. The environment of a great school like this ought to excite the boys to be and 

 to do. 



I have heard.no more of the Americans, so I trust they will leave me in peace. The three 

 puppies are getting about now, but I don't think I shall be able to keep four albino dogs, and 

 must seek a home for them. I hope the Laboratory publications reached you safely. I enclose 

 two notices. I believe some of the daily papers also had notices. Miss Elderton's Lecture on 

 Nature and Nurture ought to be out this week. I am printing a paper by Dr Goring on the 

 " Inheritance of Phthisical and Tnsane Tendencies based on criminal Observation," which I think 

 is very good. My neighbour here is a great pig breeder, but he will not take any interest 

 in actual measurements for heredity, only in the prize and show work. 



Ever yours affectionately, Kakl Pearson. 



Fox Holm, Cobham, Surrey. September 6, 1909. 



My dear Karl Pearson, I had delayed writing, hoping vainly that you might discover 

 a way of getting here comfortably, some day. I am truly sorry you feel unrested. You will 

 discover, as all your elders have discovered, how strict our bodily limitations are. We are 

 each of us machines, each of his individual horse-power which we cannot strain safely by tying 

 down safety valves, or the like. 



Let me offer a tribute of admiration to your lecture, which I have read and re-read and look 

 upon as a masterpiece. As for the Treasury it speaks for itself of the immense care in com- 

 pilation. 



I wonder whether you could conveniently turn some of the Laboratory folk on to a simple, 

 but, I think, important inquiry, for which the collection of family histories affords ample 

 material. It is, how many relations, on the average of that collection, has each person in the 

 following degrees : 



(1) Grandfather's (Paternal) brothers, (2) ditto (Maternal), 



(3) „ „ sisters, (4) „ „ 



(5) Father's brothers, (6) Father's sisters, 



(7) Mother's brothers, (8) Mother's sisters, 



and quere the sons and daughters of 5, 6, 7 and 8. 



The above 8, plus the 4 grandparents and 2 parents =14 in all, form a large body of 

 individuals and it is well worth while, in the frequent absence of exact knowledge of their 

 number, to appraise the average significance of heredity in such and such a degree. If you think 

 this feasible, I will draw up a more careful scheme, excluding half-brothers and the like. 



I am so glad about your boy at Winchester and about your other "bairns" on their cycles. 

 You would be amused to see the mechanical appliances that Gifi and my man-nurse use to prise 

 me into a Victoria — I am so helpless ! 



I hope the puppies prove to be thorough albiuos. 



X. has written an uncommonly good paper in the Sociological Review, of which I received 

 an offprint this morning, on the obstacles to Eugenics. It is the best piece of writing that 

 I have seen of his. Perhaps the American will come down unexpectedly with a big gift 

 after all ! 



So you have a great pig establishment close by. My heart rather leans to pigs, but I wish 

 they did not smell. Ever affectionately, Francis Galton. 



