220 Life of Count Rumford. 



I have already had occasion to mention the late 

 James F. Baldwin, of Boston, one of the sons of 

 Count Rumford's friend, who, inheriting the scientific 

 genius and taste of his honored father, employed his 

 engineering skill in the introduction of the Cochituate 

 water into this city. Holding the most intimate rela- 

 tions with Sarah Thompson all through her life, having 

 her frequently as a guest in his family, managing her 

 affairs and acting as her executor, I find from the corre- 

 spondence which passed between them, and which I have 

 before me, that he had for her a high regard. He was, 

 of course, aware of her marked peculiarities of charac- 

 ter, and as a man of excellent discernment could hard- 

 ly have expected that she should have been without 

 them, or have viewed and treated them otherwise than 

 he did, considering what had been her experiences and 

 fortunes from her infancy to old age. Towards the 

 close of her life she wrote a sketch of a considerable 

 portion of its most interesting period for the wife of 

 Mr. Baldwin, also her warmly attached friend. I am 

 allowed to have, and to use according to my own judg- 

 ment, this piece of autobiography. I may not, per- 

 haps, use it wisely in making such large extracts from 

 it in the ensuing pages. But as there is no one among 

 the living who will be troubled by its disclosures, except, 

 it may be, by some of its incongruities with Philosophy, 

 I venture to print much of its contents, as illustrating 

 one of the ever varied and ever interesting exhibitions 

 t of human nature under peculiar circumstances of oppor- 

 tunity and experience. I may say in explanation of its 

 style and matter, that though there had been an intention 

 and effort to secure to Sally the best education which 

 could then be obtained by one situated as she was, 



