1801. ^ET. 48.] COUNT KUMFORD. 73 



building, but, as things are not yet in readiness to begin, I 

 am excused from remaining ; instead of which I return to 

 England, to put an end to the work begun there that of the 

 Royal Institution. I owe so much to the Elector, it is my 

 duty to do all in my power to give him satisfaction. Besides, 

 he says I shall be president of the academy when done. 



In another letter he speaks of the kindness he met 

 with in Bavaria. 



He left Munich on October 13, and again wrote to 

 his daughter on his arrival in Paris on the 25th. His 

 daughter says this was her father's first visit to Paris. 

 The reception he met with was 'simply enchantment.' 

 His inventions were in common use ; his name was 

 familiar to everyone. He made a multitude of ac- 

 quaintances ; parties were made for him every day ; and 

 he particularly liked one lady. Two letters written to 

 Sir Joseph Banks from Paris in 1801 are of great 



interest. 



Hotel de Caraman, Paris, November 11. 



MY DEAR SIE JOSEPH, I arrived here from Munich about 

 a fortnight ago, and I purpose staying here three weeks 

 longer. My reception has been very nattering, and I find 

 many interesting objects of curiosity that engage my 

 attention. I have already made the personal acquaintance 

 of most of the men of eminence in science, and I have 

 attended several of the meetings of the National Institute. 

 At the last meeting of the mathematical and physical class 

 the First Consul came in, and, fortunately for the complete 

 gratification of my curiosity, he happened to come and seat 

 himself very near me. One person only (Lagrange) was 

 between us. He stayed about an hour till the meeting was 

 over. Volta read a memoir on Galvanism and explained 

 his theory of the action of the voltaic pile or battery. His 

 opinion is that all the appearances that are called galvanic 



