Life of Count Rumford. 23 



express their resentment, in conformity with the popular 

 feeling against the oppressive measures of the British 

 Ministry. This agreement, which the watchful patriots 

 took care should be strictly kept even by those who 

 might have reluctantly entered into it, of course so 

 affected the business of Mr. Appleton as to make the 

 services of Thompson less necessary to him. In the 

 mean while the boy, more engaged, we must venture to 

 say, in his scientific experimenting than in the cause of 

 demonstrative patriotism, came very near to losing his 

 eyesight, if not also his life, by an alarming accident. 

 He had undertaken to prepare some fireworks for use 

 in a public jubilation over the news of the repeal of the 

 Stamp Act. While grinding his materials in a mortar, 

 a terrific explosion, probably caused by some grains of 

 sand in the compound, involved his head, hands, and 

 breast in its fearful consequences. He suffered a long 

 confinement and much pain, and was regarded as very 

 fortunate in escaping permanent injury. 



The following correspondence shows that young 

 Thompson was at home, probably in a state of con- 

 valescence, at the time of its date : 



' " WOBURN, Aug 1 . 14, 1769 



" MR. LOAMMI BALDWIN, 



" SIR, Please to give the Direction of the Rays of Light 

 from a Luminous Body to an Opake, and the Reflection from 

 the Opake Body to another equally Dense and Opake ; viz', the 

 Direction of the Rays of the Luminous Body to that of the 

 Opake, and the direction of rays by reflection to the other opake 

 Body. Your, &c. 



THOMPSON. 



" N. B. From the Sun to the Earth, Reflected to the Moon 

 at an angle of 40 Degrees." 



