Life of Count Rumford. 297 



may still be made available in another way and for 

 another object, is to be observed in the following reply 

 of the selectmen to Count Rumford, through Colonel 

 Baldwin. They will be very glad to receive the money 

 proffered by him and his daughter, and though they 

 dislike the conditions prescribed for the gift, a.nd freely 

 express their objections, they will manage in some 

 manner to accept them, rather than lose the money, 

 offering, meanwhile, an opportunity for the modification 

 of the terms. 



"CONCORD, N. H., Nov. 17, 1798. 



" DEAR SIR, In your obliging letter of the 24th Sept., 

 which we had the honor to receive, we find stated a plan of 

 an Institution, proposed by Sir Benjamin Thompson, Count 

 of Rumford, and his daughter, the Countess of Rumford, for 

 establishing a fund of two thousand dollars, 3 per cent stock of 

 the United States, the income of which is to be appropriated to 

 clothe, annually, in the uniform of the House of Industry at 

 Munich, twelve poor, industrious children of the town of 

 Concord, and the same to continue in perpetuam. 



" Having attentively considered the proposals of the Count 

 and his daughter, we, as a committee, in behalf of the town 

 of Concord, request the favor of you, sir, to communicate to 

 them the following, viz. : 



" That the object under consideration, to wit, the encourage- 

 ment to industry, appears to us important, and meets the appro- 

 bation of every good and enlightened citizen ; but that the 

 means proposed to be used for the accomplishment of that 

 object will have the desired effect is with us a doubt. 

 Whether the clothing of these twelve children, which to 

 them will be temporary, or minds well informed in useful 

 knowledge, which will be durable, and of which none can 

 deprive them, will be most likely to effectuate so noble and 

 benevolent a design, are questions which we beg leave to submit 

 to their judicious consideration. 



