COUNT ROIFORD. 121 



with his projects, it might have been better for his 

 health. Had he known how to employ the sanative 

 power of Xature, he would have kept his vigorous frame 

 longer in working order. But the mountains of Mag- 

 giore were to him less attractive than the streets of 

 Verona, where he committed himself to the planning of 

 soup-kitchens. He made similar plans for other cities, 

 so that to call his absence a holiday would be a mis- 

 nomer. He returned to Munich in August, 1794, slowly 

 recovering, but not able to resume the management of 

 his various institutions. In September, 1795, he re- 

 turned to London, after an absence of eleven years. Dr. 

 Ellis describes him as "the victim of an outrage" on 

 his arrival, the meaning of which seems to be that the 

 trunk containing his papers, which was carried behind 

 his carriage, was appropriated by London thieves. " By 

 this cruel robber}'," he says, " I have been deprived of 

 the fruits of the labours of my whole life. ... It is 

 the more painful to me, as it has clouded my mind with 

 suspicions that can never be cleared up." What the 

 suspicions were we do not know. 



Soon afterwards he was invited by Lord Pelham, 

 then Secretary of State for Ireland, to visit him in 

 Dublin ; he went, and during his two months' stay there 

 busied himself with improvements of warming, cooking, 

 and ventilation, in the hospitals and workhouses of the 

 city. He left behind him a number of models of useful 

 mechanism. The Royal Irish Academy elected him a 

 member. The grand jury of Dublin presented him 

 with an address ; while the Viceroy and the Lord Mayor 

 wrote to him officially to thank him for his services. 

 Dr. Ellis has not been able to find these documents, 

 but they were seen by Pictet, who describes them 

 "filled with the most nattering expressions of estf 

 and gratitude." 



