92 THE ROYAL INSTITUTION. [CHAP. II. 



it herself. But she seldom goes out, keeping open doors ; 

 that is to say, to all the great and worthy, such as the 

 philosophers, members of the Institute, ladies of celebrity, 

 &c. 



On Mondays we have eight or ten of the most noted of 

 our associates to dinner. Thursdays are devoted to even- 

 ing company, of ladies and gentlemen, without regard to 

 numbers. Tea and fruits are given, the guests continuing 

 till twelve or after. Often superb concerts are given, with 

 the finest vocal and instrumental performers. 



At this time Sir C. Blagden wrote to Sir Joseph 

 Banks : 



I have received a letter, dated November 22, from a lady 

 in Paris, which contains no kind of news except the follow- 

 ing article about Count Rumford and his lady : ' Madame 

 Lavoisier s'appelle a present Madame de Rumford. J'ai 

 vu Madame de Rumford [the writer of the letter has been 

 returned to Paris only two days]. Us ne donnent ni 1'un 

 ni 1'autre aucun detail sur leur mariage ni sur 1'epoque ; un 

 jour ils Font dit a leurs amis, et il n'y a pas eu plus de for- 

 malite que cela. Ils sont sur un pied fort amical, mais ils 

 etaient ainsi depuis longtemps. La maison de Mdme. de 

 Rumford est charmante. Elle rembellit tons les jours et 

 avec beaucoup de gout.' 



On January 15, 1806, Rumford wrote to his daughter : 



The newspapers will acquaint you with the other par- 

 ticulars of this peace, which will occasion a great change in 

 the political state of Germany, as, in fact, of all Europe. I 

 hope that I shall not, and I do not think that I shall, lose 

 by any of these changes. At all events the Elector, or 

 rather the new King, has just written me a very kind 

 letter, giving me hopes, rather than suggesting fears of any- 

 thing of a disagreeable nature. But dependencies like 

 mine can never be otherwise than uncertain, as I feel it, 

 notwithstanding my marriage. I may make a change, 



