470 Life of Count Rumford. 



which admitted of many interpretations, coming before 

 the public contrary to his intentions, might be per- 

 verted, felt called upon to guard himself against mis- 

 construction. He might be charged with giving out 

 obscure hints of important information which he held 

 back, and thus with keeping others in doubt about the 

 originality of the discoveries made by their own investi- 

 gations. This, he says, would tend to damp instead of 

 exciting the spirit of inquiry. He might also be sus- 

 pected of "lying in wait to seize on the fair fruits of 

 the labours of others." He therefore justifies himself 

 by affirming that the assertions he had privately made 

 to Pictet were perfectly true. He suppressed some of 

 his speculations on the enticing subject which he had 

 presented to those fond of philosophical pursuits, in 

 order to prompt others to strike out roads for them- 

 selves, instead of following in his footsteps. He adds: 



" And with regard to the reputation of being a dis- 

 cover er^ though I rejoice, I might say exult and tri- 

 umph, in the progress of human knowledge, and enjoy 

 the sweetest delight in contemplating the advantages to 

 mankind which are derived from the introduction of 

 useful improvements, yet I can truly say that I set 

 no very high value on the honour of being the first to 

 stumble on those treasures which everywhere lie so 

 slightly covered." 



In reference to the religious sentiment with which 

 he had concluded the first part of his Essay, the Count 

 says: "Though some may smile in pity, and others 

 frown at it, I am neither ashamed nor afraid to own 

 that I consider the subject as being of the utmost im- 

 portance to the peace, order, and happiness of mankind 

 in our present advanced state of society." 



