26 Sketch of the Early History of Count Rumford. 
who espoused the same cause, ever had the utmost confidence 
in him. 
II. His conduct had uniformly been in accordance with his pro- 
fessions. His conduct in Boston on the 5th of March, 1770, has 
already been referred to,—he was there found sword in hand, among 
the most eager to attack those whom he considered the enemies of 
his country. Also, when he learned that his intimacy with Gov. 
Wentworth was made the occasion of suspicions with regard to the 
character of his political principles, he at once broke off the inter- 
course, and even resigned his commission in the militia and retired 
to his relatives in Woburn. He was present at the battle of Lex- 
ington ; but whether he participated in the events of the day is to 
me unknown. : 
When, after the battle of Lexington, the American forces began 
to collect about Boston, we find him among them earnestly seeking 
employment, and on the best terms with the Massachusetts whig 
- officers. When the battle of Bunker Hill occurred, he was with 
the American army at Cambridge ; and on the arrival of Wash- 
ington the 3d of the next month, to take charge as commander in 
chief, Thompson was favorably introduced to him by the officers, 
and would probably have obtained command of the American artil- 
lery had it not-been for the opposition of some of the New Hamp- 
shire officers, who could not forget his former appointment over 
them by Gov. Wentworth. Jeremiah Gridley was finally appointed 
to the place. 
Ill. He was formally tried before a committee of investigation, 
upon the general charge of being inimical to the cause of his coun- 
try, and acquitted. Failing to obtain a place in the army he re- 
turned to Woburn, and such was the feeling of the populace at this 
time excited against him, that a mob once actually collected around 
the house in which he was and demanded him. The mob appear 
to have failed in their immediate object ; but the insult his high spirit 
could not endure, and he at once applied to the committee of vigi- 
lance for the appointment of a court of inquiry to investigate his ease. 
He was therefore arrested at his own request, and notice extensively 
given in the public papers of Massachusetts and New Hampshire, 
of the time and place appointed for his trial, and all who knew any 
thing against him were invited to be present and testify. The charge 
was the general one of being “unfriendly to American liberty.” 
When the day of trial arrived, the committee assembled at the place 
appointed,—the meeting-house of the first parish in Woburn,—and 
