| Description | Correspondence between William Bateson, Walter Frank Raphael Weldon and Francis Galton relating to Weldon's report to the Royal Society, "On the Frequency of Specific Abnormalities Affecting Two Dimensions of the Shore Crab", Proceedings of the Royal Society, 57 (1895).
14 October 1896, Bateson to Galton. Bateson has concerns over the conclusions drawn, and Weldon's apparent oversight of the issue of the moult.
22 October 1896, Weldon to Galton [two drafts]. Regarding Bateson's criticism. Weldon argues that full data collection and calcuation has not been completed, and offers two methods in response to Bateson's criticism regarding the moult.
28 October 1896, Bateson to Galton. Bateson seeks clarification on two passages in Weldon's letter.
03 November 1896, Bateson to Galton. Regarding Galton's suggestion that he await Weldon's second publication. Bateson explains why he has avoided making his criticism public.
07 November 1896, Weldon to Galton [two drafts]. Weldon thinks a numerial example may not be the best way to answer Bateson's queries, and offers records of two individual crabs, and two hypotheses.
15 November 1896, Bateson to Galton. Informs Galton that his previous criticism related only to the published report, but that he is now aware of further omissions from the report. Bateson offers detailed criticism of Weldon's two methods.
17 November 1896 Galton to Weldon, enclosing a letter from Bateson to Galton dated 15 November. Bateson wishes to circulate copies of the correspondence to members of the committee. Galton suggests to Weldon that Bateson be invited to join the Committee.
03 January 1897, Bateson to Galton. Bateson does not think that the Committee's lines of inquiry will prove fruitful, but will assist with the proposed experimental farm where possible. Attached to the letter are Galton's notes on the subjects for study proposed by himself, Walter Heape, Raphael Meldola and Adam Sedgwick.
18 January 1897, Bateson to Weldon. Bateson wishes Weldon to remove references to him in a future paper, but will agree to the correspondence with Galton being referenced. Bateson reiterates his original criticism of Weldon's paper.
01 February 1897, Bateson to Galton. Regarding a Committee meeting. Bateson suggests evidence which the Committee should seek to gather, and possible experiments for the experimental farm. |