Life of Count Rumford. 281 



"MUNICH, I5th Feb., 1797. 



" DEAR SIR, I have this day -sent under cover to Mr. 

 Pearson, Secretary to the American Academy of Arts and 

 Sciences, a power of Attorney, authorising you and Dr. Wil- 

 lard to transfer 5000 Dollars American 3 per cent Stock, which 

 now stands in my name in the Books of the Treasury of the 

 United States, to the Fellows of the said Academy. The loss 

 of the original Certificate which was issued for this Stock may 

 perhaps occasion some delay in the completion of this business, 

 but I hope you will find means to finish it without much trouble 

 to yourselves. 



" As soon as this is done, I shall request your assistance in 

 transferring an equal sum to my much-loved Mother, to whom 

 I am desirous of giving a small token of my filial affection, and 

 of my sincere gratitude for all her kindness to me in the early 

 part of my life. 



" My Daughter, who is with me, and who is the comfort of 

 my life, desires her most particular compliments to you and to 

 your Lady. She often mentions your goodness to her, and 

 looks forward with impatience to the time when she hopes to 

 pay you a visit accompanied by her Father. 



" Nothing could afford me so much heartfelt pleasure as to 

 be able to gratify these her most earnest wishes, which are so 

 natural, and which I feel perhaps still stronger than she does. 

 She is a very good Girl, and is much loved here by everybody 

 who knows her. 



" The Elector has lately made me very happy by permitting 

 me to resign to her one half of a Pension I enjoyed, which was 

 granted to me several years ago as a reward for my public ser- 

 vices. Two Thousand Florins a year (equal to about two hun- 

 dred pounds sterling) are secured during her life to my Daugh- 

 ter (who has been received at Court as a Countess of the 

 Empire). And this grant is accompanied by a circumstance 

 which renders it peculiarly agreeable to her and to me, which is 

 that she may enjoy her Pension in any country in which she 

 may choose to reside. 



" She is now above want, and her happiness in life will de- 



