Life of Count Rumford. 413 



spondence with them, and to co-operate with them in all things 

 that may contribute to the advancement of Science, and to the 

 general Diffusion of the Knowledge of all such new and useful 

 Discoveries and mechanical Improvements as may tend to in- 

 crease the enjoyments and promote the Industry, Happiness, 

 and Prosperity of Mankind. 



" I have the honour to be, with much respect, Sir, 

 " Your most obedient humble servant, 



"RUMFORD. 

 " To the REV. DR. WILLARD, President of 



Harvard University, Massachusetts." * 



Domestic and scientific concerns .are happily com-, 

 bined in the following letter to Colonel Baldwin, writ- 

 ten from the Count's lodgings in the Institution in 

 Albemarle Street: 



" ROYAL INSTITUTION, 9* June, 1800. 



" MY DEAR SIR, I cannot neglect so good an opportunity 

 of writing to you as the return of Mr. Higginson to Amer- 

 ica now offers. And I must begin my letter with a subject 

 which is ever uppermost in my mind. My Daughter and my 

 dear Mother will probably be in your neighbourhood when this 

 letter reaches you. I most earnestly recommend them both to 

 your kind attentions. I have one wish, and one only, respect- 

 ing them, which is, that they may be as happy as possible. As 

 I. am at so great a distance from them, I am but ill qualified 

 to judge of their wants and their wishes. Pray assist them 

 in every way in which your friendly assistance can be of use 

 to them or make them comfortable and contented. I once 

 imagined that my Mother might perhaps be disposed to prefer 

 Woburn to every other situation for the place of her residence, 

 and I have long wished to see her and my Daughter comforta- 

 bly settled under the same roof. What can be done to unite 

 them cordially in the same scheme and mode of life ? 



" If this can be done, I should prefer it to any other plan. 



* Memories of Youth and Manhood. By Sydney Willard. Vol. I. p. 159. 



