Biographical Memoir of Count Rumford. 211 



him any blame. During the cruel period from which we have 

 just emerged *, when almost all the states of Europe saw their 

 citizens serving under opposite colours, each asserted that he 

 was fighting for his country ; and the chance of arras itself, 

 which is the universal umpire, has not terminated this kind of 

 contest. Fortunately, honour and fidelity are points respecting 

 which there are no disputes, and in those happy moments, when 

 reason, induced by exhaustion, at length puts an end to the 

 bloody quarrels of nations, honour and fidelity rally all the vir- 

 tuous and brave. 



Mr Thomson remained firmly attached to the royal govern- 

 ment, and served it with courage and address, whether in the 

 field of battle or in the cabinet ; but he did not participate in 

 all the mad schemes of some of its partisans. Those against 

 whom he fought always respected him, and of this feeling he 

 received a very honourable proof at the end of the war, when 

 several cities of the United States sent him urgent invitations to 

 return. 



It is well known that one of Washington's first exploits was 

 to compel the English troops to evacuate Boston, on the 24th 

 March 1776. Mr Thomson was employed to carry the news of 

 this unfortunate affair to London. Missions of this kind are 

 not generally such as procure rewards ; but the prepossessing 

 appearance of the young officer, and the accuracy and extent of 

 the information which he gave, made a favourable impression 

 on Lord George Sackville, then Secretary of State for the 

 American department, and so celebrated for the misfortunes of 

 his administration. He thought he had made a good acquisi- 

 tion by attaching such a man to his office, and having received 

 abundant proofs of his talents and fidelity, raised him, in 1780, 

 to the important post of under Secretary of State. 



This appointment would have been a very advantageous one 

 under a more able minister ; but Mr Thomson soon experienced 

 the most painful feeling that can affect an honourable man, that 

 of the incapacity of his benefactor. The royal army seemed 

 condemned to every kind of misfortune. Public opinion pro- 

 nounced more decidedly against the ministers. To the re- 

 • The period of the llevolution. 



o 2 



