[Francis Galton, letter to the Editor of The Times, 18 June 1909.]

DETERIORATION OF THE
BRITISH RACE

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES

Sir, ‑‑ A specious inference was drawn, yesterday; in a speech by Lord Halsbury at the luncheon given to Lieutenant Shackleton by the Royal Societies Club. He said (I quote from your report) that, "in view of what Mr. Shackleton had gone through, it was impossible to believe in the supposed deterioration of the British race."  But exceptional performances do not contradict the supposition in question. It is not that deterioration is so general  that men of remarkably fine physique have ceased to exist‑for they do; thank God -- but the bulk of the community is deteriorating, which it is, judging from results of inquiries into the teeth, hearing, eyesight, and malformations of children in Board schools, and from the apparently continuous increase of insanity and feeble‑mindedness.  Again, the popularity of athletic sports proves little, for it is one thing to acclaim successful athletes, which any mob of weaklings can do, as at a cricket match, it is quite another thing to be an athlete oneself.

 FRANCIS GALTON.     

12 Rutland‑gate, S.W., June 16.