28 THE EOYAL INSTITUTION. [CHAP. I. 



They engaged in conversation, which became very 

 animated. Colonel Thompson being invited to dine with 

 the Prince, met at the table a number of French officers 

 whom he had encountered on the field in America. They 

 talked at length of the events of this war. The Colonel 

 produced his portfolio, which contained exact plans of 

 the principal engagements, the forts, the sieges, and an 

 excellent collection of maps. One and another recognised 

 the place or the interesting incident which was recalled to 

 him. They conversed a long while, and separated promis- 

 ing to meet again. The Prince was passionately devoted 

 to his profession and intensely eager for information. He 

 invited the Colonel for the next day. They resumed with 

 the same zest the conversation of yesterday. When at last 

 the traveller took leave, the Prince engaged him to pass 

 through Munich, and gave him a friendly letter to the 

 Elector of Bavaria, his uncle. 



The season was advanced, and he was in haste to reach 

 Vienna. He had promised to stop at Munich two or three 

 days at most ; but he passed there five days, and then did 

 not leave but with regret a city where the tokens of the re- 

 gard of the sovereign and the attentions of different classes 

 of society were extended to him with that frank cordiality 

 which so eminetly distinguishes the Bavarian nation. He 

 received equally at Vienna the most flattering welcome, 

 and was presented at Court and mingled in the first 

 society. There he passed a part of the winter, and, learn- 

 ing that the war against the Turks was not to be carried 

 on, he yielded to the attractive memories of Munich, and, 

 passing through Venice, where he stopped some weeks, and 

 by the Tyrol, he returned to Brompton by the end of the 

 winter of 1783-84. 



In February he was knighted by Greorge the Third, 

 and he received permission to enter into the service of 

 the Duke of Bavaria. 



