1783. JET. 30.] COUNT RUMFOED. 27 



this step is more awkward than the whole journey. The 

 triumvirate of this memorable embarkation will consist of 

 the grand Gibbon, Henry Laurens, Esq., President of 

 Congress, and Mr. Secretary, Colonel, Admiral, Philosopher 

 Thompson, attended by three horses, who are not the most 

 agreeable fellow-passengers. If we survive, I will finish 

 and seal my letter at Calais. Our salvation shall be as- 

 cribed to the prayers of my lady and aunt, for I do believe 

 they both pray. 



Boulogne. 



Instead of Calais the wind has driven us to Boulogne, 

 where we landed in the evening, without much noise and 

 difficulty. . . . Laurens has read the pamphlet, and thinks 

 it has done much mischief. A good sign ! l 



Professor Pictet, of Geneva, has published in the 

 6 Bibliotheque universelle ' the notes he made of a con- 

 versation with Count Bumford regarding his life at 

 this time. He says : 



A purely accidental circumstance had a decisive influ- 

 ence over his destiny. He arrived at Strasburg, where 

 the Prince Maximilian of Deux Fonts, now [1801] Elector 

 of Bavaria, then Field-Marshal in the service of France, 

 was in garrison. This prince, commanding on parade, sees 

 among the spectators an officer in a foreign uniform, 

 mounted on a fine English horse, whom he addresses. 

 Thompson informs him that he comes from serving in the 

 American war. The Prince, in pointing out to him many 

 officers who surround him, says, ' These gentlemen were in 

 the same war, but against you ; they belonged to the 

 Royal Regiment of Deux Fonts, that acted in America 

 under the orders of Count Rochambeau.' 



1 The pamphlet here referred to was Lord Sheffield's ' Observations 

 on the Commerce of the American States.' 



