116 COUHT RUMFORD. 



Lawgivers and founders of religions ne^er failed to 

 recognise the influence of cleanliness on man's moral 

 nature. ' Virtue,' he said, ' never dwelt long with filth 

 and nastiness, nor do I believe there ever was a person 

 scrupulously attentive to cleanliness who was a consum- 

 mate villain.' He had to deal with wretches covered 

 with filth and vermin, to cleanse them, teach them, and 

 give them the pleasure and stimulus of earning money. 

 He did not waste his means on fine buildings, but taking 

 a deserted manufactory, he repaired it, enlarged it, 

 adding to it kitchen, bakehouse, and workshops for 

 mechanics. Halls were provided for the spinners of 

 flax, cotton, and wool. Other halls were set up for 

 weavers, clothiers, dyers, saddlers, wool-sorters, carders, 

 combers, knitters, and seamstresses. 



The next step was to get the ediflce filled with 

 suitable inmates. New Year's Day was the beggars' 

 holiday, and their reformer chose that day to get hold 

 of them. It was the 1st of January, 1790. In the 

 prosecution of his despotic scheme all men seemed to 

 fall under his lead. To relieve it of the odium which 

 might accrue if it were effected wholly by the military, 

 he associated with himself and his field officers the 

 magistrates of Munich. They gave him willing sym- 

 pathy and aid. On New Year's morning he and the 

 chief magistrate walked out together. With extended 

 hand a beggar immediately accosted them. Thompson, 

 setting the example to his followers, laid his hand 

 gently upon the shoulder of the vagabond, committed 

 him to the charge of a sergeant, with orders to take 

 him to the Town-hall, 'where he would be provided for 

 in one way if he were really helpless, but in another way 

 if he were not.' Thompson encouraged his associates, 

 and with such alacrity was the work accomplished, that 

 at the end of that day not a single beggar remained at 



