522 Life of Count Rumford. 



" We are here in a great bustle, preparing to repel the inva- 

 sion with which we are threatened. It is an unpleasant time, 

 and I sincerely lament the renewal of war. It was my inten- 

 tion to have gone into Germany this summer, if the enemy had 

 not so much obstructed the passages. 



" My health continues good, but I am not in very high spirits 

 any more than yourself. We have both nearly the same cause 

 for our complaint, namely, the want of objects sufficiently 

 interesting." 



Under date of London, December 5, 1803, Sir 

 Charles writes : 



" All I can tell you about your father is this : he continued 

 travelling with the French lady till about the middle of Septem- 

 ber, when she left him at Mannheim, and returned to Paris. 

 Your father had applied to the French government for leave to 

 come to England through France, but was refused. In con- 

 sequence he remained at Mannheim till the middle of October, 

 when, having by some means, I do not know how, induced the 

 French government to change their resolution, and allow him 

 to travel in France, he set out for Paris ; and I know that he 

 was in that city on the ist of November. In the last letter I 

 received from him, which was written the day before he set out 

 from Mannheim, he said that he had great hopes of being 

 in England before the end of this year. Since that time I have 

 heard nothing from him. He continues very intimate with the 

 lady, but whether it will end in a marriage, I cannot say. My 

 own opinion is rather inclined to the negative, yet I have no 

 good foundation for it. However, should they marry, I do not 

 think it would be an unfortunate event for you. The lady is 

 rich, and most probably will have no children. If you should 

 have no other home you would naturally live with them, and in 

 that situation would enjoy every kind of comfort belonging to a 

 single state. Whether that would make you amends for the 

 want of conjugal felicity, you can best judge from your own 

 feelings. And this leads me to the part of your letter which 

 refers to your idea of settling at Northampton [Massachusetts]. 



