8o Life of Count Rumford. 



9 



the direct contrary : And as he has now given us the strongest 

 assurances of his good intentions, we recommend him to the 

 Friendship, Confidence, and Protection of all good People in 

 this and the neighboring Provinces Colonies. 



" WOBURN, in the Province of Massachusetts Bay, 29th May, 1775." 



The me.eting-house was crowded on the occasion, and 

 the accused pleaded his own cause and managed his own 

 defence. There does not appear to have been any 

 examination of witnesses. Such reports, surmises, or 

 charges as any one present chose to repeat or suggest 

 personally or through hints to the Committee were 

 met by Thompson, and by him ascribed to envy or 

 jealousy. It has been said by one who has argued in his 

 cause,* that, though the Committee reached this favora- 

 ble decision, they refused to secure him a public acquit- 

 tal, the reason assigned being, that if they gave a copy 

 of their proceedings to Thompson for publication, it 

 would offend . his opponents, as seeming to condemn 

 them. He adds that Thompson's feelings were greatly 

 exasperated at this injustice. 



The statement hardly seems probable. A result 

 reached and announced in a thronged meeting in a 

 village church, after such a deliberate hearing, could 

 hardly be prevented from becoming matter of notoriety. 

 Yet Thompson himself complains, as we shall see in 

 another letter to Mr. Walker, of injustice from the 

 Committee. The inference drawn by Mr. Johnston is, 

 that the above vindication of Thompson was written by 

 one of the Committee, but was not allowed, as the 

 accused desired, to be communicated to the public. 

 He says that as a postscript to the original report of 

 the Committee of Vigilance is added what follows : 



* John Johnston. See note on p. 11. 



