1799. JEx. 46.] COUNT RUMFORD. 65 



took the liberty to say that to assist in the establishment of 

 so useful an institution I should be happy to be permitted 

 to make a present to the academy of my collection of 

 military books, plans, drawings, and models. I now 

 repeat this offer, and with a request to you that you would 

 make it known to the Executive Government of the United 

 States, and that you would let me know as soon as may be 

 convenient whether this offer will be accepted. 



Another letter written the following day to his friend 

 Colonel Baldwin also gives the reason why Eumford 

 stayed in England. 



March 14, 1799. 



I will not attempt to describe the painful disappoint- 

 ment I feel at being obliged to give up all hopes of seeing 

 you and the rest of my dear friends in America this year. 

 A small pamphlet which you will receive with this letter 

 will acquaint you with the reasons which have induced me 

 to postpone my intended voyage ; and you will, I am con- 

 fident, agree with me in opinion that I have done right in 

 sacrificing the pleasure that voyage would have afforded me 

 to the more important objects to which my attention has 

 been called. I beg you would be so kind as to give my 

 dear mother the earliest notice of this change in my plans, 

 and that you would at the same time endeavour to give 

 her just ideas of the very great importance of the under- 

 taking in which I have been called npon to give my assist- 

 ance, and show her how impossible it was for me to refuse 

 that assistance, especially as it was asked in a manner so 

 honourable to myself. And as the success of the under- 

 taking will be productive of so much good, and will place 

 me in so distinguished a situation in the eyes of the world 

 and of posterity, you will, I am persuaded, find little diffi- 

 culty in persuading her that I have done perfectly right, 

 and in reconciling her to the disappointment she will natu- 



F 



