18 THE ROYAL INSTITUTION. [CHAP. I. 



Sutton referred the question of quality and quantity to 

 the Adjutant-General, who reported that ' it would be 

 doing injustice to Mr. Thompson not to declare that, as 

 far as my judgment goes, he will not only gain great 

 credit for himself, but at the same time essentially 

 serve the public by his disinterested and very attentive 

 execution of the trust that has been reposed in him 

 on this occasion.' Their lordships directed Mr. Thomp- 

 son forthwith to provide the several articles mentioned, 

 and allowed him one and a half per cent, commission. 

 The sum he received at this time was one hundred and 

 twenty pounds. 



Among the exiles in London was Judge Curwen, of 

 Salem, Massachusetts. He kept a journal, and in it he 

 gives a picture of Thompson, May 23, 1781 : 







On returning home I found a letter from Arthur Savage, 



informing me of Mr. Thompson's compliments and wish to 

 see me at eleven o'clock to-morrow at his lodgings. 



May 24. Went early, in order to be at Mr. Benjamin 

 Thompson's in time, and being a little before, heard he was 

 not returned from Lord George Germain's, where he 

 always breakfasts, dines, and sups, so great a favourite is 

 he. To kill half an hour, I loitered to the park through 

 the palace, and on second return found him at his lodgings. 

 He received me in a friendly manner, taking me by the 

 hand, talked with great freedom, and promised to re- 

 member and serve me in the way I proposed to him [pro- 

 bably the securing the continuance of his allowance un- 

 reduced]. Promises are easily made, and genteel delusive 

 encouragement, the staple article of trade, belonging to the 

 courtier's profession, I put no hopes on the fair appear- 

 ances of outward behaviour, though it is uncandid to 

 suppose all mean to deceive. Some wish to do a service 



