Life and writings of Count Rumford, v 



and afterwards remained for some months in the American camp at 

 Cambridge. He demanded and received a court of inquiry into 

 his conduct, which was held at Woburn in 177^, and by which 

 he was honourably acquitted of any actions or designs inimical 

 to the cause of his country. He renewed his exertions to procure 

 a majority in a corps of artillery then forming at Cambridge, and 

 while waiting in suspense for this appointment, he applied him- 

 self diligently to the study of military tactics, and the art of for- 

 tification. He was peculiarly instrumental by his efforts, in pre- 

 serving the library and philosophical apparatus of the University, 

 at a time when the colleges were occupied as barracks by the 

 soldiery. At length, after remaining some time with the'army in 

 fruitless hope, and seeing the post of his ambition filled by a 

 rival candidate, be retired in disgust from the scene of his de- 

 feated expectations. The qualities of his mind were ill calculat- 

 ed to brook the combined influence of disappointment and suspi- 

 cion, and he resolved to embark as an adventurer for England, 

 entrusting to fortune and to his own genius the allotment of his 



future destiny. 



The evacuation of Boston by the troops under the command 

 of Gen. Gage was an important event in the early history of the 

 American revolution. Mr. Thompson happened to be the bearer 

 of the -official despatches announcing this event, to London. 



This circumstance iurnisshed hi^u at ouce an introd 



high in influence and power. Such was the interest which at 

 that time prevailed in regard to the state and disposition of the 

 American colonies, that a man possessing intelligence and ad- 

 dress, coming ira mediately from the scene of action, was a val- 

 uable and acceptable source of information. Mr. Thompson did 



■"-. 



