142 COUNT KUHFOED. 



A portion of the motive force of a man of Rumford's 

 temperament may be described as irritability. During 

 the possession of physical vigour and sound health, this 

 force is held firmly by the will and directed by intelli- 

 gence and tact, But when health slackens and physical 

 vigour subsides, irritability often becomes an energy 

 wanting adequate control. Rumford's success in 

 managing all manner of men in Bavaria illustrates his 

 pliancy as much as his strength. But before he started 

 the Royal Institution his health had given way, and 

 'temper,' it is to be feared, had got the upper hand. 

 In point of intellect, moreover, he came then into con- 

 tact with people of larger calibre and more varied accom- 

 plishments than he had previously met. He could 

 hardly count upon the entire sympathy of Young and 

 Davy, though I believe he remained on friendly terms 

 with them to the end. They were gems of a different 

 water, if I may use the term, from Rumford. The chief 

 object of his fostering care was mechanical invention, 

 as applied to the uses of life. The pleasures of both 

 Young and Davy lay in another sphere. To them 

 science was an end, not a means to an end. The get- 

 ting at the mind of Nature, and the revealing of that 

 mind in great theories, were the objects of their efforts, 

 and formed the occupation of their lives. Had they 

 been as enthusiastic as Rumford himself in Rumford's 

 own direction, the three united would probably have 

 daunted opposition, and for a somewhat longer time 

 endeavoured to realise Rumford's dream. But differ- 

 ences arose between him and the other Managers. ' It 

 is very clear to me,' writes Dr. Bence Jones to Dr. 

 Ellis, 6 that Count Rumford fell out with Mr. Bernard 

 and with Sir John Hippesley. The fact was that Rum- 

 ford's idea of workshops and kitchen, industrial school, 

 mechanics' institution, model exhibition, social club- 



