568 Life of Count Rumford. 



" AUTEUIL, lo 1 . 11 January, 1810. 



" Here month after month arrives, but you do not come. I 

 am very impatient to see you, but I am more anxious lest some- 

 thing should happen to you on the way, for discord reigns 

 everywhere. Americans, while at peace with the whole world, 

 have their vessels taken by both the French and English, by their 

 disliking to have them favor one or the other of the nations ; 

 which it must be owned the Americans are fond of doing, by 

 being the carriers to both nations, of great advantage to them. 



"I flattered myself on quitting that hornet's nest of a place, 

 the Rue d'Anjou, and having relinquished all my rights and 

 titles there, avoiding scrupulously political cabals, frequenting 

 neither Ministers nor Courts, leading the most harmless life, 

 besides having been of an advantage to mankind thus far, I 

 might be allowed harmless repose. But it is not the case. In 

 some situations a person cannot be allowed to escape difficulty. 



" That is precisely my case. I must take sides with one or 

 the other, and because I do not I experience calumny and 

 persecution. The way I reason is, that, having done a pretty 

 good share of good, I think I am entitled to safety and repose; 

 while those still involved in danger and difficulties think that I, 

 having shared honors and kindness, ought to be involved in the 

 common troubles. 



" In short, I have no other resource left me but to rush into 

 difficulty and danger, or to quit the world. Bound as I am to a 

 certain power [Bavaria], I can do nothing by halves. The quit- 

 ting the world occupies much of my thoughts. Will you, my 

 dear, quit it with me-, if you come ? I cannot retire publicly, 

 and cannot stay." 



I am uncertain as to the date of the following letter, 

 but it must have been written soon after the preceding, 

 and was probably left at Auteuil in case the daughter 

 should arrive during her father's absence. 



" MY DEAR CHILD, From Mr. Armstrong, our Minister 

 at Paris, I gained information that you have already sailed from 



