632 Life of Count Rumford. 



Colonel Baldwin, after relating the circumstances 

 which induced his young friend to take refuge with his 

 mother in Woburn, and giving the account, repeated in 

 an earlier page, of his trial and acquittal, proceeds to 

 offer such a plea for him that we ought to allow to him 

 its benefit : 



u Supposing that from the probable effect his past conduct 

 had produced upon those who would make appointments, he 

 should never be able to participate in the exquisite enjoyments 

 of patriotism struggling with oppression, and when it was un- 

 certain on which side victory would remain, he left the Ameri- 

 cans to seek that patronage and shelter in another country 

 which were refused him here. This step he made for pursuits 

 very different from those which have been imputed to him. 



u From this general view of the conduct of Major Thompson 

 and his manner of leaving America, some may have received 

 unfavorable impressions of his character. But he had never 

 made politics his study, and never perhaps seriously considered 

 the origin and progress of the contest ; and if he had sought 

 for employment against his countrymen, he had sufficient oppor- 

 tunities of being gratified. But he wished not to build his fame 

 upon his exploits and dexterity in warlike achievements. He 

 wished not to sacrifice his countrymen, that he might thereby 

 become the hero of the British arms. But, believing that the 

 benevolent plans which he has since adopted could never be 

 executed but under the fostering hand of well-directed power, 

 he sought a field for the exercise of his goodness and ingenuity 

 where they could be executed, and where there was the most 

 obvious demand. In doing this, success has attended his steps, 

 and he has erected in the bosom of every poor man a temple to 

 gratitude which will endure as long as benevolence and charity 

 shall be considered Christian virtues." * 



It is to be remembered that the foregoing hearty 

 defence of his friend by Colonel Baldwin was likely, 



* 



Literary Miscellany, Vol. I. Cambridge, 1805. 



