Life of Count Rumford. 541 



the Elector, whose oldest son was to marry the Em- 

 peror's sister. But the Count could not make up his 

 mind to the undertaking. He writes : " My health 

 requires that I should keep more quiet. It is all I ask 

 here. I have and ask no augmentation of appoint- 

 ments. Many cannot understand why I am not more 

 anxious for places and money. People even pretend 

 I am going to be Minister of State ; but for a cer- 

 tainty I am not, neither do I desire to be. I want 

 only quiet.." 



In her summary of a letter from her father, dated at 

 Mannheim, November 30, 1802, Sarah says that " he 

 alludes to his love concern : says he has got into full 

 employment at Munich, but would rather be in Paris; 

 and the certain lady would rather have him there, 

 meaning the widow Lavoisier. Oh ! in Paris were cen- 

 tred all charms. He did not know the fate that awaited 

 him in that country." 



Writing again from Munich, January 22, 1803, 

 Rumford, evidently not meaning to remain, says he is 

 unsettled there, and therefore could not conveniently 

 have his daughter with him, but that at a future time, 

 not far distant, he would attempt it. He was living 

 in considerable style, having his servants, the Aich- 

 ners, with him, with his equipages. While he was at 

 Munich, he was joined by Madame Lavoisier, and with 

 her he made the tour to Switzerland, as already men- 

 tioned. 



The Count writes to his daughter from Paris, Rue 

 St. Lazare, November 30, 1803, and describes himself 

 as most happy, seeing interesting sights and receiving 

 the most flattering attentions. He appears to have en- 

 tered with much zest into the pleasures and amusements 



