230 Life of Count Rumfjrd. 



London, but I had found nothing like them here, all being 

 covered with smoke, and that was why I admired nothing. I 

 secretly applauded myself for having given so sharp an answer. 

 People of any character after a while get conformed to circum- 

 stances. My father observing one day, to friends present, that I 

 was extremely docile and obedient to him, I burst into a laugh, 

 saying, he was not to imagine it was all free-will and pleasure. 

 My father was fond of having his own way, even, as I fancied, 

 to despite me j but, as an excuse for him, he had led the life of 

 a bachelor ever after twenty. 



" It is well known to be a disadvantage, in many respects, for 

 males and females to have little or no control. His wish for 

 implicit obedience from me, and my early indulgence, as I may 

 say, from a mother, made us at times not get on so well, at all 

 events rendering me extremely unhappy. My stay in London 

 at this time was not of long duration, but from the novelty of 

 scenes and the multiplicity of ideas seemed to be so. Our 

 society being the first, my advantages were great, and might 

 lead to happiness if always to be continued ; much the con- 

 trary, if otherwise. The first society has a charm which leaves 

 a void difficult to be filled up when deprived of it. 



" My father was often at the Royal Society, and intimate 

 with its President, Sir Joseph Banks. I would be invited to the 

 dinners Sir Joseph gave to the select ones of his royal learned 

 Society. Through the kindness and civility of Lady and Miss 

 Banks, his wife and sister, I several times found myself one of 

 their party. Lady Banks was so kind, and most likely out of 

 civility to my father she would allow me to be with her for 

 days together, taking me about with her, letting me see things, 

 in short, trying to amuse me. I recollect she took me to a 

 Lord Mayor's ball, where I saw the princes and royal family for 

 the first time. As may be supposed, the select dinners of the 

 Royal Society were highly interesting, and where, I think, 

 ladies were seldom or never admitted. I was allowed to accom- 

 pany Lady and Miss Banks as a mere nobody ; but this did not 

 prevent my making observations which never have been and 

 never will be forgotten. The idea of very learned people 



