COUNT RUMFOED. 129 



growing up. Eumford noticed this, and disapproved of 

 it. Being invited to dinner at the house of the Countess 

 Lerchenfeld, with her father's consent Miss Thompson 

 went. Count Taxis happened to be one of the party, 

 and on hearing this Rumford jumped to the conclusion 

 that a ladies' conspiracy was afoot to counteract his 

 wishes. With a lowering look he taxed his daughter 

 with what he supposed to be an intrigue. At first she 

 could only stare at him in surprise. ' After which, on 

 knowing what it meant, like many young people who 

 laugh when there is nothing to laugh at, an irresistible 

 inclination seized me to laugh.' She gave way to her 

 inclination, * and it ended in my father's boxing my 

 ears.' She was stunned by the indignity, and ' quitted 

 the room, without making an observation, or trying to 

 appease him by saying I was innocent.' 



The Elector put the seal to his esteem for Rumford 

 by appointing him as Plenipotentiary from Bavaria to 

 the Court of London. King George, however, declined 

 to accept him in this capacity. Mr. Paget, the Minister 

 at the Court of Bavaria, was desired ' to lose no time in 

 apprising the Ministers of His Electoral Highness that 

 such an appointment would be by no means agreeable 

 to His Majesty, and that His Majesty relies therefore 

 on the friendship and good understanding which have 

 always hitherto subsisted between himself and the 

 Elector of Bavaria, and that His Highness will have no 

 hesitation in withdrawing it.' The King had made 

 up his mind. ' Should there unexpectedly arise any 

 difficulty about a compliance with the request, which 

 His Majesty is so clearly warranted in making, I am to 

 direct you, in the last resort, to state in distinct terms 

 that His Majesty will by no means consent to receive 

 Count Rumford in the character which has been assigned 

 to him.' The fact of Rumford's being not only a British 



