558 Life of Count Rumford. 



evenings a tea-party of eighteen or twenty gentlemen 

 and ladies, staying till about midnight. Conversation 

 their amusement, a new method of spending time." 



Sarah adds that her father had no objection to these 

 dinners of philosophers, except that he " had not a 

 shadow of attachment for the pleasures of the table, 

 being neither an eater nor a drinker." But as to the 

 tea-parties, " these were enough to kill the poor Count 

 in some few weeks, as a restraint upon his former habits." 



There is unmistakable sadness in the following ex- 

 tract from a letter written at this time. It brought also 

 a grievous disappointment to the daughter, who had 

 become very earnestly desirous of rejoining her father in 

 Paris, as he had promised that she should, and of 

 sharing with him the place which was "a paradise,' 

 and the companionship of the lady who was "perfec- 

 tion " and "goodness itself." 



" In answer to your inquiries respecting myself, I can only 

 tell you that my health continues good. But while making a 

 paradise of our situation, affluence, and all the advantages of a 

 good reputation well earned, the esteem and even united ap- 

 plause of mankind, cannot make amends for disappointments. 

 If I have earnestly wished to hear of your being comfortably 

 settled in America, it is because I have no hope of seeing you 

 happy with me in my present situation. It is not always in my 

 power to render my house agreeable to my particular friends, a 

 disagreeable restraint upon me." 



The daughter's comment on the above is as fol- 

 lows : 



" And this for the Count too ! He had led absolutely a 

 bachelor's life, no one leaning on him or controlling him during 

 his whole days. Of course, to conform to others or yield on his 

 own part after this liberty enjoyed by him was naturally trying. 



