Life of Count Rumford. 511 



much 'happiness, but> which resulted in alienation and 

 disappointment, and, it would seem, in clouding and 

 imbittering the last years of the Count's existence. 

 I shall follow the daughter's rehearsal of these ex- 

 periences, and then gather from other sources such 

 illustrative information as is within my reach. 



As regards the daughter herself, in the interval that 

 elapsed after her return to America, and before she 

 joined her father again in Europe, I have several inter- 

 esting matters to communicate. The Count's mother 

 had removed with her husband to Maine before Sarah's 

 return. This led the granddaughter to make frequent 

 visits to that State, in which, while visiting aunts and 

 cousins, she made many acquaintances and friends in 

 Portland, Brunswick, Flintstown, etc. Indeed, it would 

 seem as if she had no settled abiding-place, and became 

 quite reconciled to, if not fond of, a roaming life, which 

 made her the guest of many hospitable homes. I have 

 before me many letters of hers to female friends, and 

 they are largely occupied with affairs of the heart. Her 

 father's distinctions and reputation would have secured 

 her attentions, even apart from her own recommenda- 

 tion of herself by her natural or acquired attractions. 

 We have seen that she considered herself unfitted for a 

 quiet and simple life in a country village, or even in 

 .a populous town in her native land, and that her for- 

 eign adventures made her crave a renewal of their ex- 

 citements. 



Here is a pleasant note of hers to her father's friend, 

 Colonel Baldwin. 



"BOSTON, October 15, 1799. 



" DEAR SIR, " You were so good as to say that you would 

 carry me to Woburn any time. I should like to go. If you 



