150 Life of Count Rumford. 



lievc, he was lurking in secrecy for many months in that 

 town between his coming to it from Newport and its 

 evacuation, rumors and hints of what could not be re- 

 garded otherwise than as dishonorable in his course 

 could hardly fail to reach his old acquaintances. His 

 readiness to act as bearer of despatches, and then to be 

 the servant and adviser of the British War-Minister, and 

 soon his colleague in office, and then to enlist and com- 

 mand a most odious class of troops in the service of 

 \*hat was regarded as tyranny, complete the grounds on 

 which his countrymen at the time would condemn him, 

 those grounds being furnished entirely by himself. 

 The constancy of Baldwin's friendship accrues to the 

 credit of Baldwin himself. Till Thompson had won 

 a name of honor and renown in other ranges of his 

 genius, and indeed even after his benevolent projects had 

 done so much to offset reproach, there were many in 

 this neighborhood who spoke of him with indignation 

 and scorn. Nor can the plea advanced for him of 

 having been driven by unjust suspicion and ill-usage, 

 and by the withholding from him of a coveted promo- 

 tion, to turn against an imperilled cause which he had 

 professed in his heart to love, be of much weight in 

 his defence. (See Appendix.) 



Having thus pronounced upon him as in opposition 

 in act to himself and his convictions, I may add to 

 such praise as is due to him as a good soldier, quick 

 and true and bold in action, and faithful to the govern- 

 ment which he served, the higher tribute, that from 

 the hour when the war closed he became, and ever con- 

 tinued to be, the constant friend and generous benefactor 

 of his native country. The engraving on the opposite 

 page is from a painting of Thompson as a British 

 officer, taken at this time. 



