Life of Count Rumford. 17 



had found his proper position. He lived in his master's 

 family as a member of the household. But there is 

 something better than tradition to warrant the inference 

 that his heart was not in his employment. Instead of 

 watching for customers over the counter, he was apt to 

 busy himself with tools and instruments which he had 

 hid away under it. And, when the sound would not 

 betray him, he ventured to play his fiddle, for he was 

 a skilful musician, and passionately fond of music of 

 every kind. 



The following document, relating to the apprentice- 

 ship of young Thompson with Mr. Appleton, has a 

 claim to be introduced here on that ground, if not, also, 

 as an illustration of the exercise of the right of private 

 judgment in the art of spelling and in the use of capital 

 letters.* 



" To MR. JOHN APPLETON IN SALAM. 



" MEDFORD, June ye z6: 1767. 



"M? APPELTON, Sir, these lins left us all well, as I hope 

 they may find you. Thompson has wrote to me diuers times 

 about his affairs, and he saith he is Contented, and hath Sum 

 priuyledge of trade for him Self, and that you, Sir, would let 

 him haue Sum fish to Ship, if I would send you an order for 

 them : acordingly I send one inclosed. Pray Sir, if he Shipeth 

 any thing, See it insured in a proper manner. Sir, if Ben Sends 

 to Sea and dont make Pay, let me haue Notis of it. Pray, Sir, 

 tak Spechal Care about the Company he keeps, and I should be 

 glad to know the General Run of his behauour, both as to trade 

 and Company : and if you will fauour me with an acount there 

 of, I shal tak is as fauour. As to his Cloath, I Exspect his 



* The original manuscript was communicated at a meeting of the Massachusetts 

 Historical Society, in October, 1864, by the Assistant Librarian, the late Dr. John 

 Appleton, to whose grandfather it was addressed, and is published in the Proceedings 

 of the Society for that year, pp. 4, 5. 

 VOL. II. 2 



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