History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts - citizen hylbom blog

a commission in the army, which was not given.
The refusal is believed to have been founded on
the animosity of the officers of the New Hampshire
regiments. This rebuff touched him deeply, and
the feeling was intensified wlien, on his return to
Wobnrn, a company was sent to arrest liim. His
persecutors were foiled by the presence of mind of
his friend Baldwin. Thompson wrote to his father-
in-law at Concord that he " had done nothing to
merit such cruel usage, and he could not bear any
longer the insults that had been offered him."
He determined, therefore, to leave the vicinity, if
not the country. He left Woburn quietly for
Newport, Rhode Island, where he was taken on
board a British frigate, wiiich soon after came to
Boston. Here he remained through tiie winter.
Upon the evacuation of the town, in March, he
Mas despatched to England as bearer of the news.
He was immediately taken into favor, and a place
was made for him in the office of Lord George
Germaine, one of the Englisii ministers. In four
years from the time of his arriving in England he
was appointed an under secretary of state. Toward
tiie close of the war he was commissioned as a colo-
nel of dragoons, and came to America in the ser-
vice of England. For a little time he was in
South Carolina, and acted as a partisan commander
against General Marion, and was afterwards sta-
tioned on Long Island, at the head of a regiment of
refugee dragoons. He saw but little active service,
and on the declaration of peace returned to Eng-
land. Obtaining leave of absence for the conti-
nent of Eurcjpe, he visited Austria with a view of
obtaining miHt:iry service against the Turks. He
was warmly received by the emperor; but the war
soon closing he came to Munich, where he entered
the service of the elector of Bavaria, whom he had
previously met at Strasburg, and who had been
favorably impressed by his talents and accomplish-
ments. As grand chamberlain of the prince he at
once set about important reforms in the government.
He thorouglily reorganized the military department,
not only introducing a better standard of discipline
and economy, but founded army Avorksliops and
military gardens, wliere the soldiers could employ
their time and talents in mechanical and agricul-
tural pursuits, to their own personal advantage as
well as tlie benefit of the state. These things being
accomplished, he set about reforming the system of
beggary pervading Munich and its suburbs. This
mendicancy was of the most sliameless and extor-
tionate character, and needed a wise and firm hand
WOBURK 553
to control it. Thompson was fully equal to the
emergency. He made such careful preparations
for the execution of his projects, that the whole
body of beggars was arrested on a certain day, and
consigned to a large and well-arranged workhouse,
and the lazy and troublesome vagabonds set to
useful employment. Sir Benjamin (he had been
knighted by George III. on leaving England) also
instituted otiier social reforms, greatly improved
tlie breed of iiorses and of horned cattle, and con-
verted an old hunting-ground near Munich into an
attractive park. This spot, nearly six miles in cir-
cumference, is still known as the English Garden,
and is a favorite resort of the people of the city.
Within it is a monument to the memory of its
founder, on whicii are inscribed the sentiments of
affection and gratitude lie inspired in all classes in
Bavaria. As other evidence of the esteem in which
he was held, he was invested by the elector witii
many titles of honor. He was made major-general
of cavalry, a privy councillor of state, and first min-
ister of war. A little later, in 1791, he received the
rank of a count of tlie Holy Roman Empire. In
selecting the title to accompany it he chose that
of Ruraford, the town in New Hampsliire where
lie had once resided. In carrying out the plans
in which he had been so laboriously engaged, tlie
health of Count Rumford was much enfeebled. He
went to Italy for relief, but not improving as rap-
idly as he wished, he returned to England. There he
received great attention. His advice and opinions
on many scientific and other matters were much
sought for, and he published a series of essays em-
bodying his views on social and sanitary reforms.
During the time Count Rumford was engaged
in these public labors he gave much attention to
philosophical subjects. Heat was one of those
to which he applied his investigations with great
boldness and success. Modern scientists are tar-
dily awarding to him the honor of first announcing
the modern doctrine of heat, and the great law of
tlie correlation and the conservation of the physical
forces. He also experimented on fireplaces and
cooking ranges, and to liim, as the original inves-
tigator, is due nearly all the modern improvements
in these matters of domestic comfort and economy.
In the war that followed the French Revolution
Austria was involved. The Bavarians wishing to
hold a neutral position. Count Rumford was sent
for to act as head of the Council of Regency. His
skilful management resulted in maintaining the desired
neutrality. New honors were conferred upon