Life of Count Rumford. 287 



Walker. He has, for these last twenty years at least, paid 

 the Taxes, on my behalf, for four shares (or perhaps they 

 may be six) which belong to me in a new Township, called 

 Pennicook, lying somewhere near Saco river. Will you be 

 so good as to repay him these advances, with the inter- 

 est, &c. 



u I wish you would also make inquiries respecting the quan- 

 tity, quality, situation, and value of these lands, and let me 

 know whether it would be most advisable for me to keep them 

 or to part with them. 



u There is still one more commission with which we are 

 desirous of troubling you ; and though it is rather of an un- 

 common nature, and may be attended with some embarrass- 

 ment, we cannot help flattering ourselves that you will under- 

 take it. I must introduce it by an account of a little event 

 which gave rise to the idea of the undertaking, in the execution 

 of which we shall request your assistance. 



" In March last my Daughter, desirous of celebrating my 

 birth-day in a manner which she thought would be pleasing to 

 me, went privately to the House of Industry, and, choosing out 

 half a dozen of the most industrious of the little Boys of 8 

 and 10 years of age, and as many Girls, dressed them new, 

 from hand to foot, in the uniform of that public Establishment 

 at her own expence, and, dressing herself in white, early in the 

 morning of my birth-day, led them into my room and presented 

 them to me when I was at breakfast. 



" I was so much affected by this proof of her affection for 

 me, and by the lively pleasure that she enjoyed in it, that I 

 resolved that it should not be forgotten ; and immediately 

 formed a scheme for perpetuating the remembrance of it, and 

 often renewing the pleasure the recollection of it must afford 

 her. I made her a present of 2000 Dollars American three 

 per cent Stock, on the express condition that she should appro- 

 priate it In her Will, as a capital for clothing every year, forever, 

 on her birth-day, twelve poor and industrious Children, namely, 

 6 Girls, and 6 Boys, each of them to be furnished with a com- 

 plete suit of new clothing, of the value of five Dollars, made 



