COUNT RUMFORD. 113 



States ; their army was almost a shadow, while ignorance 

 and idleness were conspicuous in every class of society/ 

 Thompson evoked no religious animosity. He avowed 

 himself a Protestant, but met with no opposition 

 on that score. Holding as he did the united offices of 

 Minister of War, Minister of Police, and Chamberlain 

 of the Elector, his influence and action extended to 

 all parts of the public service. Then, as now, the 

 armies of the Continent were maintained by conscrip- 

 tion. Drawn away from their normal occupations, the 

 peasants returned after their term of service lazy and 

 demoralised. This was a great difficulty ; and in dealing 

 with it patient caution had to be combined with adminis- 

 trative skill. Four years of observation were spent at 

 Munich before Thompson attempted anything practical. 

 The pay of the soldiers was miserable, their clothing bad, 

 their quarters dirty and mean ; the expense being out of 

 all proportion to the return, The officers, as a general 

 rule, regarded the soldiers as their slaves ; and here 

 special prudence was necessary in endeavouring to effect 

 a change. Thompson induced the more earnest among 

 the officers to co-operate with him, by making the pro- 

 posed reforms to originate apparently with them. He 

 aimed at making soldiers citizens and citizens soldiers. 

 The situation of the soldier was to be rendered pleasant, 

 his pay was to be increased, his clothing rendered com- 

 fortable and even elegant, while all liberty consistent 

 with strict subordination was to be permitted him. 

 Within, the barracks were to be neat and clean ; and with- 

 out, attractive. Reading, writing, and arithmetic were 

 to be taught, not only to the soldiers and their children, 

 but to the children of the neighbouring peasantry. The 

 paper used in the school would, it was urged, be 

 practically free of cost, as it would serve afterwards 

 for cartridges. 



