Life of Count Rumford. 523 



My advice on that subject is, that you should by no means 

 enter into such an engagement without your father's express 

 approbation. Acquaint him with all the circumstances, and 

 with your own feelings, as exactly as you can ; and then say 

 that you will accept or refuse the offer, according to the advice 

 that he shall give. It is probable that he will not be able to 

 make up his mind till his own affair with the French lady shall 

 be decided ; and your suitor, if he is reasonable, will have 

 patience till that time, on your fairly stating to him the causes 

 of your own indecision. Before you make an engagement with 

 this gentleman be sure of yourself in one respect, namely, that 

 you shall not regret the giving up the splendid society in which 

 your father will live in Paris, if he marries the lady in question, 

 for that sort of existence which you will have at Northampton. 



" A letter which I sent you the latter end of last July (by 

 the favor of Mr. Gore, who promised to forward it by the first 

 ship for Boston) will have informed you that your father 

 seemed not likely to have any permanent settlement at the 

 court of Bavaria, in which case your establishment there would 

 not be so pleasant as I hoped when I wrote to you in June. 

 Where he will ultimately fix it is impossible to foresee. I do 

 not think it will be in this country, nor probably in France, 

 unless he should marry the lady with whom he travelled. As 

 to America, he seems less inclined to go thither than ever. 



" I thank you very much for remembering my dear sister. 

 She died two years ago. 



. " My own situation is too uncertain to indulge any specula- 

 tion about going to America. But I am truly obliged by your 

 friendly offer of taking up my final abode with you at North- 

 ampton, in case you should settle there. 



11 Since this was written I have received a letter from your 

 father, dated at Paris, November u. By this it is evident that 

 he expects to marry the French lady, though nothing is yet 

 finally determined. I again particularly advise you not to enter 

 into any engagement till you know the result of this affair, and 

 the plan that your father shall adopt respecting you, in case it 

 should end according to his wishes, of which, however, I have 



