1776. JEx. 23.] COUNT RUMFORD. 13 



peace.' This failed utterly, from ignorance of the depth 

 of opposition in the colonies. Boston was evacuated 

 in March 1776, and Mr. Thompson was sent to England 

 with the news. He was probably thought perfectly 

 qualified to answer every question relative to his 

 Majesty's service. Cuvier says, 'La bonne mine du 

 jeune officier, la nettete et 1'et endue des renseignements 

 qu'il donna, previnrent en sa faveur le secretaire d'Etat 

 au departement del'Amerique.' His news caused no great 

 distress, and his information must have reassured the 

 minister, for even in June Lord G. Germain and the 

 Prime Minister wrote to General Howe on the good 

 prospect of an end being put to the rebellion in one 

 campaign. It was the good news from Canada that 

 helped to deceive them. 



Mr. Thompson was taken into Lord George Germain's 

 office, and he was appointed Secretary of the Province 

 of Georgia. 



In the autumn of 1777 Thompson was at Bath for his 

 health, drinking the waters. Whilst there he made 

 some experiments on the cohesive strength of different 

 substances. These led to no great results, but he com- 

 municated them to Sir Joseph Banks, the new President 

 of the Eoyal Society. 



Sir W. Howe was at this time asking for large 

 reinforcements. He thus wrote to Lord G. Germain 

 from Philadelphia : 



4 From the little attention, my Lord, given to my 

 recommendations since the commencement of my 

 command, I am led to hope that I may be relieved 

 from this very painful service wherein I have not the 



