[ Francis Galton; Printed ] Questionnaire with introductory Letter from H.W. Crosskey, President of the Birmingham Philosophical Society, all printed., with signature of Francis Galton and his response in manuscript. also signed an dated.

Printed Letter and Questionnaire from the Birmingham Philosophical Society, 'Translation of Scientific Memoirs' Committee, 4pp., 4to, bifolium, some sunning and marking, good condition. Printed Letter, p.[1], from H.W. Crosskey, explaining what the questionnaire is for ("Action for the Translation and Publication of Foreign Scientific Memoirs" to be put to the attention of the British Association). The questionnaire comprises four questions, with a final section headed "Remarks". Galton has answered in holograph only the first printed question (but filled a blank page (p.[2]with an "alternative plan"), the first question being, "Do you think it advisable that steps should be taken to secure the systematic translation and publication in English of all the more important foreign scientific memoirs?" Galton writes, "The matter to be dealt with being voluminous & much dependent on Illustration, I do not see how the cost of so vast an undertaking could be defrayed, or how its consistent management could be secured. Much more detailed information as to what is desired by the authors of the proposal seems to me to be wanted, before I could answer either 'yes' or 'no' to this question." The further printed questions, left blank by Galton, were: "2. If so [advisable] would the work be best accomplished: (a) by the formation of a Special Society or Committee for dealing with memoirs on all subjects; or (b) by the formation of separate Societies or Committees each dealing with one particular branch of science; or (c) by urging the existing scientific Societies to undertake the translation of the memoirs with which they are most nearly concerned? | 3. Would it be necessary, in your opinion, to translate memoirs in the French language? | 4. Should the work of translation be done voluntarily, or be paid for by a small fee; the name of the translator in either case being attached to his work?" Section 5 is headed "Remarks" (final page) and Galton has written, "I have put on a separate paper (the opposite half sheet of this circular [a blank]) some brief [another word crossed out] remarks on an alternative plan, that might be worth considering in detail", details following:Twenty-seven lines of holograph outlining Galton's suggestions, commencing: "If the subject of translation should be discussed at all, I think the following idea might be worth consideration _ | A publication [ on financing] and under such management as that of the Phil: Mag: to take a part towards the memoirs of foreign scientific soc[iet]ies not unlike that taken by Hansard towards the Parliamentary debates [] not given in total but are yet authentic, [] I suppose the Editors to have full power to refuse wholly, or to cut parts out, and thus indirectly to exact good form & literaryu style. The material they would translate to be chiefly supplied by the Sec[retar]ies of Foreign Societies, in the form of Abstracts of the Memoirs signed by the authors [to be accompanied with prints as in originals] & an offer of clichés of the blocks, &c at cost price. No translation ['not' excised] to be published until a full [?year) after the original memoir." He believes that this would mean the articles would be both "condensed and original". That the publication would grow into an "International undertaking by which the chief scientific memoirs would be published in abstract in the chief continental languages. In this case authors w[oul]d think very highly of the opportunity, & w[oul]d take great pains with their Abstracts." He is running out of space but squeezes in a final thought: The experience of the Sec[retar]ies of the Brit.Assoc. in dealing with the abstracts of memoirs sent to them, would be serviceable here. | [SIGNED] Francis Galton | July 12/ 86".Questiuonnaire's filled out by others also available: Francis Darwin, A.S. Herschel, T.H. Huxley, F.R. Japp, and Oliver Lodge. See: With C. Davison) On the need of combined action for the translation and publication of foreign s.…