68 THE ROYAL INSTITUTION. [CHAP. I.] 



And a year later he wrote to Colonel Baldwin : 



Royal Institution, June 9, 1800. 



I must begin my letter with a subject which is ever 

 uppermost in my mind. My daughter and my dear 

 mother will probably be in your neighbourhood when 

 this letter reaches you. I most earnestly recommend 

 them both to your kind attentions. I have one wish, and 

 one only, respecting them, which is, that they may be as 

 happy as possible. As I am at so great a distance from 

 them, I am but ill qualified to judge of their wants and 

 their wishes. Pray assist them in every way in which 

 your friendly assistance can be of use to them, or make 

 them comfortable and contented. 



Perhaps my daughter may marry (which she has my 

 leave to do whenever she pleases, and with whom she 

 pleases). 1 This may greatly alter her relative situation 

 with me and with my mother. She may perhaps wish at 

 some future period to make me another visit in Europe, 

 and even in this scheme I shall not oppose her inclinations, 

 if her heart should be set on the gratification of them. I 

 do not mean to be an indulgent father in theory only. 



Tell me how I must act to make two persons who are 

 very dear to me as happy as possible. 



1 Notwithstanding this his daughter said her father objected to her 

 marrying Sir C. "Blagden. 



