42. Rutland Gate London. SW.

July 11. 1868.

Sir,

I fear that owing to your absence from England, three letters written at intervals from a fortnight to a month back, by M^r Grove Professor Hirst and myself, have none of them reached you.

Prof: Hirst & myself (being Joint General Secretaries of the British Association) expressed a hope in those letters that you would permit the General Officer to propose your name as President of the Association in 1869: – the meeting will be probably in Exeter.

From the many opportunities we have of knowing the feelings of scientific men on this matter, I can assure you that your acceptance of this office would give singular pleasure, & I therefore beg to express an earnest hope that you will reply favorably to our request.

Also I am sure you will excuse my adding, that it is necessary we should receive a reply from you at your earliest convenience, for the time of the Norwich Meeting (Aug 19) is approaching and it is absolutely necessary that we should be prepared before that date, with definite arrangements for the meeting in 1849. Even now, if you should be disinclined to accept the offer, the lateness of the date would cause us some trouble in making other provisions in a satisfactory manner.

I remain Yours faithfully

Francis Galton

(Joint Gen^l Sec^y Brt: Assocⁿ)

P.S. It is only this morning that I learnt your absence form England & address broad.

W. H. Fox Talbot Esq^re