554 Life of Count Rumford. 



" WOBURN, May 29, 1807. 



"My DEAR COUNT, Permit me once more, and I feel as 

 if it would be the last time, to address you, not in behalf of a 

 friend only, as heretofore, but of a so, dear and beloved, one 

 who has rendered himself eminently so by his own merit. You 

 will naturally consider the emotions which agitate the breast of 

 a lone parent at the departure of a son destined to traverse 

 foreign lands. He will be deeply interested in the temper of 

 the winds and the seas, the physical causes of disease, and all 

 the incidents inseparable from active life. I pray God that he 

 may be preserved from errors on his part, and have but the 

 advice and assistance of his friends if he should happen to stand 

 in need of them. 



" I pray you, my most respectful and respected friend, to con- 

 descend to notice him. Give him one smile on his way. It 

 will revive and cheer his heart. Give him some anecdote of 

 former times as evidence of your old acquaintance and his 

 home. If my son should be sick, or in trouble, pray visit and 

 advise him." 



Another letter from Sir Charles Blagden to the 

 Countess proves him watchful over both father and 

 daughter. 



In a letter written to the Countess from London, 

 March 8, 1806, Sir Charles, referring to her father and 

 Madame Lavoisier, after their marriage, says:.- 



" They are now living together at Paris, and, as far as I can 

 learn, very happily. I know nothing of it from your father 

 himself, which is not surprising, as I some time since intimated 

 to him my wish that our correspondence should cease. We are 

 not, to the best of my knowledge, on terms of enmity, but it is 

 not likely that any kind of confidence or friendship should sub- 

 sist between us again. This circumstance alone would make 

 me cautious of giving you advice, lest, if it were such as he did 

 not approve, he should impute it to an improper motive. But 

 besides, I really know too little of the people with whom you live, 



