24 THE ROYAL INSTITUTION. [CHAP. I. 



Despatches of this date show that in council also 

 Thompson was as efficient as in the field. 

 General Leslie wrote to Sir H. Clinton : 



I beg to know your Excellency's opinion with regard to 

 our putting arms into the hands of the negroes. I have 

 desired Colonel Thompson to speak with your Excellency 

 upon the subject, and to make known to you the particulars 

 of our situation in that respect. 



On April 1 1 Colonel Thompson arrived at New York. 



Four days afterwards Sir H. Clinton wrote to General 

 Leslie : ' Those parts of your letters to which you have 

 referred for a more full explanation to Lieutenant- 

 Colonel Thompson, I shall answer after consulting with 

 him upon the subject;' and he also says: 'With respect 

 to the disagreeable predicament which you mention 

 Lieutenant-Colonel Balfour and other officers of rank 

 in the Southern army stand in on account of Mr. Green's 

 threats for Colonel Hayne's execution, I shall consult 

 Lieutenant-Colonel Thompson, and let you know my 

 sentiments by the earliest opportunity.' 



At this time Sir H. Clinton was about to give up the 

 command he had so often petitioned to resign. He 

 had ' lamented that his happiness was sacrificed to pre- 

 vent the partial inconvenience which might have arisen 

 from a change,' and later he wrote: 'His Majesty's 

 assent to my petition will crown the many favours of 

 which my heart will ever retain the most grateful 

 remembrance.' 



On February 6 General Robinson was appointed to 

 succeed Sir H. Clinton, and soon after Sir Guy Carleton 

 took the command. 



