.^ 



XIV Life and writings of Count Rumford. 



emy has never yet been awarded, no improvement or discovery 

 having been presented which appeared deserving of the medal. 



Count Rumford received while in Europe repeated invitations 

 to revisit his native country, one of which was formally made by 



^' I 



of the United States throudi their ambassador 



& 



London. To this invitation he returned an answer expressive of 

 the deepest sense of gratitude and esteem, but declining the offer 

 on the ground that engagements, rendered sacred and inviolable 

 by great obligations, did not permit him to dispose of himself in 

 such a manner as to accept the overtures made him. 



The latter part of the Count's life does not appear to have been 



ifQed with the same undeviatins; sood fortune which 



for 



merly followed him. In Bavaria the dSath of his old benefactor and 

 patron, the Elector Charles Theodore, was succeeded by a change 



was es- 



f political interests, by which Ids influence at that 

 sentially diminished. In England, he had a rupture with the 

 managers of the Royal Institution, which materially affected his 

 popularity in that country. These circumstances probably pro-. 



duced in him the definit 



to take up his abode in 



France, a country which seemed to offer scope for his pursuits 

 and a due appreciation of his character. 

 In Paris, after a few years residei 



married Madama 



Lavoisier, widow of the celebrated chemist of that name, with 



a short time. Unhappily this match had its ori- 



hom he lived 



gin in motives of ambition, rather than a congeniality of temper; 

 and ended in a voluntary separation of the parties. Count Rum- 

 ford took up his residence at Auteuil ne.ir Paris, where he con- 

 tinned enjjasred 



gageu m various scientific 



inquiries and pursuits until 



his death. A violent attack of fever terminated his existence 

 the Slst of August 1814, and in the 62d year of his age 



on 



