I2O Life of Count Rumford. 



hung upon the fate of Cornwallis. Sir M. W. Wraxall * 

 has given a striking sketch of the incident when the 

 news of the Earl's capitulation on October 19 was 

 brought to the Secretary, with whom he dined on the 

 day mentioned. 



" On Sunday the 25th [November], about noon, official 

 intelligence of the surrender of the British forces at Yorktown 

 arrived from Falmouth at Lord George Germaine's house in 

 Pall Mall. Lord Walshingham, who had been Under-Secre- 

 tary of State in that Department, happened to be there. With- 

 out communicating it to any other 'person, Lord George, for 

 the purpose of despatch, immediately got with him into a 

 hackney coach, and drove to Lord Stormont's residence in 

 Portland Place. Having imparted to him the disastrous infor- 

 mation, and taken him into the carriage, they instantly pro- 

 ceeded to the Chancellor's, and, on consultation, determined to 

 lay it before Lord North. The First Minister's firmness, and 

 even his presence of mind, gave way for a short time under 

 this awful disaster. I asked Lord George afterwards how he 

 took the communication. c As he would have taken a ball in 

 his breast,' replied Lord George. * For he opened his arms, ex- 

 claiming wildly, as he paced up and down the apartment dur- 

 ing a few minutes, O God ! it is all over ! ' ' 



Doubtless Thompson had formed strong personal rela- 

 tions with Lord George, from such close intimacy with 

 him, not only in the office, but at his house in Pall 

 Mall, and in frequent visits to him at his seat at Dray- 

 ton. Perhaps Thompson foresaw, even more clearly 

 than many others, what was to be the probable issue of 

 the struggle in America, and provided for himself the 

 alternative which, poor as it proved, we are soon to find 

 him accepting. He was on this side of the ocean when, 

 in February, 1782, the forced resignation of his patron 



* Historical Memoirs of my own Time. Vol. II. p. 99, &c. 



