382 Life of Count Rumford. 



tend to excite the activity and increase the energy of an 

 enlightened nation." " It will not escape observation 

 that I have placed the management of fire among the very 

 first subjects of useful improvement, and it is possible 

 that I may be accused of partiality in placing the object 

 of my favorite pursuits in that conspicuous situation. 

 But how could I have done otherwise ? I have always 

 considered it as being a subject very interesting to man- 

 kind ; and it was on that account principally, that, at a 

 very early period of my life, I engaged in its investiga- 

 tion ; and the more I have examined it and meditated 

 upon it, the more I have been impressed with its im- 

 portance." One is pleased with the wisdom of his 

 homely earnestness, in the fact that he could then offer 

 as novelties such suggestions as these : that arts and 



OO 



manufactures of every kind depend, directly or indi- 

 rectly, on operations in which fire is employed ; that 

 the comforts and conveniences of human ingenuity are 

 obtained through its assistance ; that fuel costs the 

 kingdom more than ten millions sterling annually, and 

 that much more than half the fuel that is consumed 

 might be saved. 



The writer adds a brief account of the history of 

 these " Proposals," and of the causes which gave rise 

 to them. He avows that he had long been in the habit 

 of regarding all useful improvements as dependent 

 upon mechanical agencies and the perfection of ma- 

 chinery, with skill in the management of it, and of 

 considering that the profit to be thus gained was the 

 chief incitement to industry. The plan which he now 

 offers to the public is the result of his own meditations 

 as to the means that might most wisely be employed to 

 facilitate the general introduction of such improvements. 



