60 THE EOYAL INSTITUTION. [CHAP. I. 



My daughter never ceases her solicitations to engage me 

 to pay a visit to my friends in America, and her wishes are 

 so powerfully seconded by my own feelings and longing 

 desires to breathe once more my native air, that I have 

 come to the resolution to make the journey as soon as the 

 restoration of peace and the arrangement of my concerns 

 in this country will permit it. If the public affairs of 

 Europe and of America take the turn I expect, and if no 

 unforeseen event should happen to prevent my carrying my 

 schemes into execution, I think you will see us in America 

 in fifteen or sixteen months from this time. 



Meanwhile his daughter amused herself at Munich. 



The Elector was old and had married a young wife, 

 so that there was gaiety at Court during this winter, 

 and the attentions of one of the aides-de-camp of her 

 father made rides, and dinners, and balls pleasant to 

 the Count's daughter ; but she says ' all her fine 

 castles were demolished by one blow from her father, 

 and Count Taxis was ordered to join his regiment in 

 the country.' Ill health followed, and change of air 

 and scene was advised. ' My father appeared to try 

 how agreeable he could make himself, as if wishing 

 to wear off by it some of the disagreeable impressions 

 of his late conduct in drawing so many tears from my 

 poor eyes. . . . When quiet and happy himself he 

 was, like others, agreeable ; but when perplexed with 

 cares and business, or much occupied, there was no 

 living with him.' 



In the autumn of 1798, partly on account of his 

 health, he determined to return to England with his 

 daughter. The Elector of Bavaria, to show his esteem 

 for Eumford, appointed him Minister Plenipoten- 



