Life and ivritings of Count Rumford. \ii 



to his departure, lie had received the honour of Knighthood from 

 the Mng of Great Britain. 



In more than one instance of his life it happened, that the fine 

 manly figure and captivating manners of Colonel Thompson were 

 instrumental in deciding his reception among strangers. On his 

 journey to Vienna, he arrived[ at Manheim during a review of 

 troops hy the Due de Deux Fonts, afterwards king of Bavaria. 



\ 



The English officer presented himself a spectator at this parade, 

 on horseback, and equipped in the uniform of his rank. His 



appearance led to inquiries, which ended in his introduction to the 

 Duke, and afterwards to the court of the reigning Elector Pala- 

 tine at Munich. It has been stated by some, that the Elector 

 Palatine had previously applied to the British governmentfor a 

 military man, properly qualified, to organize his army. However 

 this may be, Sir Benjamin Thompson was received at Munich 

 with very flattering attention, and liis permanent stay at that 

 place was strongly urged. 



Bavaria at this time presented, in more than one respect, a fit 

 theatre for the work of reformation. Abuses of various kinds 

 prevailed among the retainers of power, while ignorance and idle- 

 ness characterized the lower classscs of society. In the army, a 

 loose and imperfect discipline was kept up, the police of the cit- 

 ies was feeble and ill administered ; and mendicitv, which was ex- 

 ercised as a trade, had become one of the most alarming evils of 



r 



the community. The enterprising spirit of Sir Benjamin led him, 

 at an early period, to contemplate the reform of these abuses. 

 His talents and experience in civil and military life, aided by the 

 unbounded confidence with which he had inspired the Elector, 

 rendered him a suitable person to undertake the performance of 



f 



