The Royal Institution: Its Founder and First ProfessorsJones, Bence
History
The Royal Institution: Its Founder and First Professors
Jones, Bence
Davy, Humphry, Sir, 1778-1829; Royal Institution of Great Britain; Rumford, Benjamin, Graf von, 1753-1814; Young, Thomas, 1773-1829
In another letter to his daughter, written January 15, 1802, he says
that he returned to Brompton on December 20, and that he was three
months on the Continent and seven weeks of the time in Paris. He spoke
of his intention to enjoy again the delights of the French capital on
his way, in the course of the summer, to Munich and to get excused
from any longer residence at Munich. The Elector continued friendly to
him, and had lately written to him a very gracious letter, in which he
expresses his pleasure at the cordiality extended towards Rumford in
France, and advises him to cultivate an acquaintance with a certain
lady there, who, among other attractions, was said to have great
wealth. When he made this second visit to Paris, the Count accepted an
invitation which he had received to stay with the Bavarian ambassador.
Before he left England again, May 9, 1802, he published the third
volume of his essays.
His tenth essay was on ‘Kitchen Fire-Places and Utensils;’ his eleventh
on ‘Chimney Fire-Places.’
His twelfth on the ‘Salubrity of Warm Rooms in Cold Weather;’ his
thirteenth on the ‘Salubrity of Bathing and the Construction of Warm
Baths.’ His fourteenth consisted of ‘Supplementary Observations on
the Management of Fires;’ his fifteenth was on the ‘Use of Steam for
Transporting Heat.’
In May 1802 he also published a volume of his philosophical papers,
with a dedication to his Most Serene Highness Maximilian Joseph,
Elector Palatine of Bavaria. In this he says he must ever feel himself
greatly indebted to his Most Serene Electoral Highness
for the kind assurances you gave me of your esteem, protection, and
friendship on your succeeding to your present Bavarian dominions on
the death of your late uncle, my kind friend and benefactor; but I
am bound to you still more, if it be possible, by the flattering
invitation you have lately given me to come to you and reside at
your Court and assist in the local work of carrying into execution
the vast plans you have formed for promoting the prosperity of your
subjects.
From Brompton, May 6, 1802, he writes to his daughter: ‘In three days
I shall set out for Dover, on my way to Paris, where I expect to stay
four or five weeks, and then to proceed to Munich.’ He sent by way of
Holland two carriages and much baggage.
On May 20 Sir C. Blagden wrote from Paris to Sir Joseph Banks: ‘Count
Rumford arrived here last Friday (the 14th) in remarkably good health.
Travelling agrees with him, and he seems very happy. We purpose to set
out for Bavaria before the middle of next month.’
Writing to his daughter, June 25, Rumford says: ‘I did not propose
to stay here long, but the Elector has written commissioning me to
transact some business for him of a political nature in which he is
much interested.’
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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