Life of Count Rumford. 231 



suggests that of pedantry. At these dinners there was nothing 

 of the kind, differing only from other refined societies when 

 remarks were made to convey perhaps new ideas, discoveries, 

 or highly entertaining instruction, sometimes there being no 

 such talk at all. In our every-day companies we consider talk- 

 ing (incessantly) of the greatest consequence, and lucky if all d j 

 not talk together and no one is heard." 



I must here interrupt the gossip in the pleasant nar- 

 rative of the daughter to recognize the graver occupa- 

 tions of her father. It would seem that he had fixed no 

 particular limit for his stay in England, and that, as we 

 shall have to notice soon, an emergent necessity called 

 him hurriedly back to Bavaria before he had completed 

 the work he had in view. Of the Count's writings, which 

 are called by him Essays, there are, in all, eighteen. 

 The publication of these extended through many years, 

 the last of them having appeared in 1812. But the 

 beginning of the series properly dates its publication in 

 July, 1796. The following proud array of titular hon- 

 ors appears attached to his name on his first title- 

 page : - 



" Benjamin Count of Rumford, Knight of the Orders 

 of the White Eagle and St. Stanislaus : Chamberlain, 

 Privy Counsellor of State, and Lieutenant-General in 

 the service of his Most Serene Highness the Elector 

 Palatine, Reigning Duke of Bavaria; Colonel of his 

 Regiment of Artillery, and Commander-in-Chief of the 

 General Staff of his Army; F. R. S. Acad. R. Hiber. 

 Berol. Elec. Boicoe, Palat. and Amer. Soc." He lived 

 to win and display many more scientific and academic 

 honors. The third London edition of his first Essays 

 was published in 1798. An American edition appeared 

 in Boston, in three volumes, in 1798 and 1799. The 



