526 Life of Count Rumford. 



of your sex as the mother of a family, you would feel much 

 more real pleasure in the occupations which would result from 

 that situation than play, or company, or any kind of dissipa- 

 tion ever afforded you. The latter always end with the feeling 

 of which you so justly complain, that 'nothing delights.' With 

 respect to the Northampton gentleman, you seem to me to 

 like him quite well enough to marry him. If, therefore, your 

 father makes no objection, I should think you would do right to 

 give him a favorable answer at once. I have now some doubts 

 whether your father, even if he should succeed in marrying the 

 French lady, would wish to have you reside with him. But do 

 not marry till he gives his consent, or at least till he tells you 

 that he has no objection. How happens it that he had not to 

 the 4th of July received a letter from you on this subject? I 

 should not wonder if his late kindness to you was chiefly at the 

 instigation of the French lady, nor indeed if she contributed to 

 it herself.* She is, in many respects, a very extraordinary 

 woman. Adieu, my dear Countess. Be assured of my sincere 

 wishes for your happiness, whether I write to you or not." 



"LONDON, August la, 1805. 



" MY DEAR COUNTESS, It is now more than a year ago 

 that I wrote to you in answer to your letter of the preceding 

 spring, which is the last that I have received from you. Be 

 assured that I always entertain the same sentiments of regard 

 for you ; that I am anxious to know whether your health con- 

 tinues good, and particularly whether you are happy. Has the 

 marriage you had then in contemplation taken place ? It would 



* Sir Charles was right in his surmise that the " French lady " had contributed to 

 certain valuable gifts sent at this time by the Count to his daughter, in anticipation 

 of his marriage. The Countess makes mention in her journals of having received 

 at this time some rich presents of lace, jewels, and trinkets from Madame Lavoisier. 

 These, which she highly valued, we shall find she was in danger of losing when the 

 vessel in which she was going to join her father was captured. She recovered them, 

 and had the opportunity of wearing them on fit occasions, and of bestowing them on 

 particular friends and relatives before her death. I have seen many of them, and they 

 are exceedingly beautiful, exhibiting fine taste in their selection, intrinsic value, and 

 the thoroughness and costliness of the workmanship of former days. 



