432 Life and Letters of Francis Galton 



It is wonderful how skilfully my tailor has patched the hole. The "fine-drawing " of the edges 

 of the patch are invisible without scrutiny, such as no stranger would venture to make* ! 

 I do hope all is well with you. Send me a line, even on a postcard. 



Ever affectionately yours, Francis Galton. 



Grayshott House, Haslemere. December 14, 1910. 



My dear Karl Pearson, We are delighted that you can come. You will be most welcome 

 as early as is convenient to you on the 28th, and as late as you care to stay on the 29th. 



The Report of the Committee to the Senate, which I return, gives solid grounds for its 

 application for a further grant to Eugenics and I am glad it was written by Hartogt, as it shows 

 that the opinions of the Chief Executive Officer are strongly in its favour. 



Few things would gratify me more than that you should be relieved from the drudgery of 

 teaching engineering students, etc., and be kept free for Biometry and Eugenics. I return the 

 Report, which I cordially approve, wishing, in vain, that I was familiar with the hidden springs 

 by which the Senate of the London University is moved and was able to give indirect influence 

 towards its acceptance. 



Snow has kindly sent me an off-print of his Memoir. 



Poor TongJ! Ever affectionately yours, Francis Galton. 



(19) The Last Scenes. 



Galton had fretted his one hour upon Life's stage; the panorama, to 

 use his own simile, had reached its final turn on the roller. This was the 

 last letter I received from Francis Galton. On December the 28th and 29th 

 I was with him at Grayshott. The weather was favourable and we sat 

 out in the sunshine, Galton warmly wrapped up, talking about the work of 

 the Eugenics Laboratory, the shortcomings of some members of the Council 

 of the Eugenics Education Society, which were much troubling him, and 

 again about the grave reaction against Darwinian evolution. One thing I 

 remember very well, Galton's intense pleasure about the Copley Medal (I had 

 not seen him since the award) and the numerous friendly congratulations 

 he had received, even from some who had long passed from his circle. At 

 dinner the conversation took a lighter tone. We had two recent converts to 

 the Catholic Church, and we gravely considered why the Devil devotes so 

 much more attention to Catholic than to Protestant countries and individuals. 

 " You don't stick a knife into Professor Y. or Dr X. as I should probably try 

 to do in your place," interjected one ardent convert. " That is because I 

 have not your security for absolution," I urged, and added : " Is your main 

 thesis correct, did not the Devil disturb Martin Luther when he wanted to 

 get on with his own work ? I fear other minor devils cause me also to waste 

 good ink." Galton took his full part in the talk. He seemed to me physically 

 frail, but mentally active, and I saw no greater cause for anxiety than at 



* The following letter from Galton's tailors may serve to give colouring to the incident : 



10, Clifford Street, Bond Street, W. December 14, 1910. 

 Sir Francis Galton, Sir, We have received the pair of Trousers and are carefully repairing the holes torn 

 by the dog, which we are pleased to learn has been placed in eternal exile. They will be forwarded to you as 

 quickly as possible. We remain, Sir, Your obedient servants, Stclz, Binnie & Co. 



t Galton was under a misunderstanding; it would be the Report on the Galton Laboratory 

 based upon material provided by its Director. 



I An albino bitch I had been obliged to send to a painless death owing to the development 

 of an incurable disease. She was the mother of Wee Ling. 



