70 THE ROYAL INSTITUTION. [CHAP. II. 



going to visit you there. It is indeed possible that the 

 fancy may suddenly strike him, and then he will set off in 

 an instant, almost without giving notice. But his favourite 

 child, the Institution, cannot yet walk alone, and, if he quits 

 it at the time he talks of, will be a helpless cripple, even if 

 it should continue to exist at all. I still see with regret his 

 time and powers wasted on an object so inferior, in my 

 opinion, to those which presented themselves to him in 

 America. But he views the thing in a different light, and 

 I suspect will be led on to stay here one year after another, 

 till you are worn out with expecting him, and the oppor- 

 tunity of distinguishing himself in a rising country will be 

 past. 



Count Rumford thus wrote to his daughter : 



Royal Institution, London. March 2, 1801. 



MY DEAR CHILD, I am still established at the Institution. 

 I have been exceedingly busy, but desire to be thankful that 

 all is now nearly completed, when I shall be at liberty. 

 We have found a nice able man for this place as lecturer 

 Humphry Davy. Lectures are given, frequented by crowds 

 of the first people. Lady Palmerston and her two daugh- 

 ters, Frances and Elizabeth, are pretty constant attendants. 



They would not receive me as minister here, but seem 

 disposed now to make it up to me by the respect they show 

 the Institution originally and chiefly my work. Bernard 

 says they are crazy about it. It was certainly gratifying to 

 me to see the honourable list of lords, dukes, &c., as fifty- 

 guinea subscribers. It is a very extensive establishment, 

 and will cost a great deal of money ; but I hope it will be 

 an equal advantage to the world, as the expense and labour 

 of forming it have been great. To strive for good things I 

 view as a laudable ambition, as I hope you do, my dear 

 Sally. But I hope, above all, to hear of your being well 

 and happy, not doubting the rest. 



I hope to be undisturbed by visitors this morning, or 



