148 COUNT RUMFORD. 



having been very handsome in her day, * and even now 

 at forty-six or forty-eight is not bad-looking.' He 

 describes her as rather embonpoint, with a great deal 

 of vivacity, and as writing incomparably well. 



Before the marriage could take place he was 

 obliged to obtain from America certificates of his birth, 

 and of the death of his former wife. All preliminaries 

 having been arranged, Count Rumford and Madame 

 Lavoisier were married in Paris, on October 24, 1805. 

 He describes the house in which they lived, Rue 

 d'Anjou, No. 39, as a paradise. ' Removed from the 

 noise and bustle of the street, facing full to the south, 

 in the midst of a beautiful garden of more than two 

 acres, well planted with trees and shrubbery. The 

 entrance from the street is through an iron gate by a 

 beautiful winding avenue well planted, and the porter's 

 lodge is by the side of this gate ; a great bell to be 

 rung in case of ceremonious visits.' Long after this 

 event Rumford's daughter commented on it thus: 

 4 It seems there had been an acquaintance between 

 these parties of four years before the marriage. It 

 might be thought a long space of time for perfect ac- 

 quaintance. But, u ah Providence ! thy ways are past 

 finding out." ' 



In a letter written to his daughter two months after 

 his marriage, he describes their style of living as really 

 magnificent ; his wife as exceedingly fond of company, 

 in the midst of which she makes a splendid figure. 

 She seldom went out, but kept open house to all the 

 great and worthy. He describes their dinners and 

 evening teas, which must have been trying to a man 

 who longed for quiet. He could have borne the din- 

 ners, but the teas and their gossip annoyed him. 

 Instead of living melodious days, his life gradually be- 

 came a discord, and on January 15, 1806, he confides 



