| Description | The great majority of these letters were written to John Howard Galton during his time at school in Oxford, and at college in Glasgow, although the sequence also contains a group of letters written to him at Dudson, before he went away to school, at times when Lucy Galton was travelling away from home, and includes a small number of letters written while he was on a tour of Europe in 1817, shortly before her death. The dominant theme of the early letters is natural history: they contain many detailed descriptions of the activities of animals, birds and fish at Dudson - most of which appear to belong to John Howard Galton - and the appearance of the garden through the passing seasons. The letters also reveal Lucy Galton's great interest in her son's general education - she often copies poetry for him in her letters, and makes reference to marking work he sends to her - and her determination for him to be interested in all aspects of life. She often describes her surroundings, especially when she is away from home, and her accounts of family and domestic life and social activities with relations, particularly members of the Barclay and Gurney families, and with family friends, are rich in anedotal stories. Later letters focus more on social engagements and activities, and several express concern at John Howard Galton's wayward behaviour, including a hints of an ill advised romantic attachment |