

RUMFORD. 105 



and the United States, and Colonel Thompson on his return to 

 England obtained leave of absence to travel on the Continent. In 

 crossing from England to France, it happened that he had as a 

 fellow-traveller the celebrated historian Gibbon, who, in some sub- 

 sequent correspondence, spoke of him as " the soldier, philosopher, 

 statesman Thompson." 



While on his way to Vienna, Thompson attended a review of the 

 garrison of Strasbourg, and, attracting general attention by his 

 superb English horse and uniform of colonel of dragoons, became 

 introduced to the notice of Prince Maximilian, nephew and pre- 

 sumptive heir of the Elector of Bavaria. This prince was agreeably 

 impressed by the manners and address of Thompson, and furnished 

 him with letters of introduction to his uncle, the Bavarian Elector. 

 "Win 'ii Thompson arrived at Munich (so great seems to have been 

 his power of conciliating favour), he was offered, on his first inter- 

 view with the elector, an important situation at court, if he would 

 ,take up his residence there. After a little delay, Thompson accepted 

 this offer, conditional upon receiving permission from his Britannic 

 Majesty. Proceeding to London to obtain the required consent, he 

 was very favourably received by George III., who conferred on him 

 the honour of knighthood, and allowed him to retain his title of 

 lieutenant-colonel, together with the half-pay attached to- it. 



Towards the close of the year 1784, Sir Benjamin Thompson, at 

 the age of thirty-one, took up his residence at Munich, and filled 

 the posts of aide-de-camp and chamberlain to the Elector; being 

 thus connected both with the military and civil service of the 

 Bavarian dominions. Into these twin branches of government he 

 soon introduced many important and salutary reforms; he re- 

 organized the Bavarian army, and introduced many improvements 

 into the art of agriculture as practised in that part of Europe ; he 

 also took wise and effectual measures for the suppression of men- 

 dicancy, and for the ameliorization of the condition of the poor at 

 Munich, introducing among them some excellent plans for the 

 economization of food and fuel. 



While investigating this latter subject, Sir Benjamin paid par- 

 ticular attention to the construction of grates and fireplaces, and to 

 the scientific properties of light and heat. He so improved the 

 methods of heating apartments and of cooking food, as to produce 

 a saving in the precious element of heat varying from one-half to 

 seven-eighths of the fuel previously consumed ; so that it was wittily 

 said, that he would never rest satisfied until he had cooked his 

 dinner with his neighbours' smoke. To him also is the honour due 

 of being the first to explain the manner in which heat is propagated 

 in fluids. In requital of these important services to the Bavarian 

 state, Thompson was decorated with two orders of Polish knight- 

 hood ; he also received the appointments of member of the Council 

 of State and lieutenant-general in the army, was created com- 



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