Life of Count Rumford. 583 



would be likely to insist upon with a spirit measured in 

 its resoluteness by the manifestation, on the part of the 

 Count, of an increasing disgust or opposition. In this 

 case, as generally under similar experiences, the inter- 

 ference of others alike interested and indifferent par- 

 ties tended to widen the breach and to foment strifes 

 between wife and husband. There were relatives of 

 Madame de Rumford who were concerned as to the 

 reversion of her large fortune. Some of the savans 

 whom she entertained did not secure, and some were 

 not worthy of, the regard of the Count. The very rou- 

 tine of social salooning, such as is described by Guizot, 

 of these miscellaneous groupings of men and women, 

 many of them, of course, excessively disagreeable, 

 was odious to Rumford. The wonder is that like a 

 philosopher, balancing privileges against annoyances, he 

 did not avail himself of the ample size of the house 

 in the Rue d'Anjou, and, as he might have done with- 

 out any eccentric variance with French manners, keep 

 by himself when he was not attracted by his wife's 

 guests, and even seek her company only a part of the 

 time. 



I have met with another literary reminiscence of 

 Madame de Rumford, similar in its tone and tenor to 

 M. Guizot' s tribute. 



The Countess de Bassanville was herself one of the 

 circle composing the society which Guizot has so fondly 

 described. She has also given to the world her remi- 

 niscences, in a strain similar to his. Her recollections 

 and her intimacies cover several of those places and 

 scenes which she groups in the title of four small vol- 

 umes, in French, bearing the title of " The Saloons of 

 the Olden Time." Among these the saloon of the 



