84 Life of Count Rumford. 



them done in the best manner and with the utmost despatch, 

 as there is a considerable number of Women here who will 

 immediately go to work upon them. Whether it is proper or 

 not to shew them to General Washington, I leave to your 

 judgement. I apprehend the price ought to be somewhere about 

 I5/, or perhaps as low as 13/6, if a large number were engaged. 



" If it shall be thought proper for the Sargent Majors to wear 

 one or two red Silk Epaulets, instead of a worsted one, I can 

 easily supply them. 



" Please to give my compliments to Col. Gerrish, and present 

 him with one of the red cockades which the bearer will give 

 you as a present from his and your much 



Obliged and most Obedient Servant, 



"BENJAMIN THOMPSON. 

 " Wednesday Morning. 



" To COL. BALDWIN, Camp before Boston.'* 



Only one other letter written on this side of the ocean 

 remains to be given from the pen of Benjamin Thomp- 

 son. It is impossible to read it without emotion. The 

 writer was twenty-two years of age, but the letter has 

 the vigor of the maturest manliness. Its firm and bold 

 chirography is in keeping with its sentiments and with 

 the forcible language in which they are expressed. It is 

 addressed to his father-in-law. 



" WOBURN, August I4th, 1775. 



" HON? SIR, I have your favours of the 16 and 29 May, 

 which I should have answered long since, but have waited for 

 an opportunity of conversing with you Verbally. But as I see 

 no prospect of having such a long-wish'd-for interview, I shall 

 trouble you with one more of my Letters. 



u I am not so thoroughly convinc'd that my leaving thf 

 Town of Concord was wrong (considering the circumstances at 

 that time) as I am that it was wrong in me to do it without 

 your knowledge or advice. This, Sir, is a step which I always 



