COUNT RUMFORD. 141 



virtues of a man. But I see no cause for calling any- 

 thing effeminate which has no tendency to diminish 

 either the strength of the body, the dignity of the 

 sentiments, or the energy of the mind. I see no good 

 reason for considering those grateful aromatic perfumes, 

 which in all ages have been held in such high estima- 

 tion, as a less elegant or less rational luxury than 

 smoking tobacco or stuffing the nose with snuff,' 



Rumford, for a year or so, occupied rooms in the 

 Institution, but his private residence was in Brompton 

 Kow, described by his friend Pictet as being about a mile 

 from London. Grass and trees grew in front of the 

 house. The windows had a double glazing, and outside 

 were placed vases of flowers and odorous shrubs. Pictet, 

 who was Rumford's guest in 1801, minutely describes 

 the whole arrangement of the house. Into Rumford's 

 working-room, which overlooked the country, the light 

 came through a set of windows arranged on the arc of a 

 circle. The window-sills were arranged with flowers 

 and shrubs, so that you might suppose yourself to be in 

 the country, close to a garden bordered by a park. 

 Pictet goes on to describe the various strokes of inge- 

 nuity shown in the management of the fuel and fire- 

 places. The beds, moreover, were disguised as elegant 

 sofas. Under each sofa were two deep drawers contain- 

 ing the bedding and other night-gear, all of which 

 were hidden by a fringed valance. At night the sofa 

 was converted in a few minutes into an excellent bed, 

 while in the morning, with equal rapidity, the bed was 

 transformed into an ornamental piece of furniture. 

 Pictet occupied one-half of the charming dwelling. 

 Perfect freedom was given and enjoyed, and the learned 

 Genevese always tried to arrange his day's work so that 

 he might, if possible, engage his friend on some subject 

 of research common to them both. 



