Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 5.djvu/385

Rh The high social position of the Thompsons, and their great wealth, enabled them to vie with any of the aristocrats in the colony in lavish display. In the field, on horseback, Thompson was the lordliest figure seen, and in the evening soirees, where all the elite of the province congregated, no figures were more noticeable than those of the young school-master and his bride. Of the greatest personal beauty, six feet in height, erect as a young pine, with finely formed limbs, keen, light blue eyes, features chiseled in the Roman mold, and hair dark auburn, dressed in the extreme of fashion, with "scarlet coat, embroidered waistcoat, satin small clothes, and gold buckles at the knee and instep," Thompson was the observed of all observers in the ball-room or in the field.

The distinguished friendship of the royal governor won for Thompson the appointment of major in the Eleventh Regiment of the New Hampshire militia, "over the heads of all the old officers." This gained for him the enmity of all his superseded rivals, and of some others who envied him his good fortune. Major Thompson probably cared little for the ill concealed dislike of his neighbors. He kept on in the even tenor of his way, visited, and received visitors, performed his duties and enjoyed his pleasures. Major and Mrs. Thompson were often the guests of Governor Wentworth, partaking of his hospitality at Wentworth House, Portsmouth, and once sharing it at his magnificent summer seat, on the shores of Smith's lake, at Wolfeborough.

In the family mansion was born their daughter, Sarah, the afterward benevolent Countess of Rumford, October 18, 1774. A few happy, prosperous months went by. Blest in his family relations, honored for his position and his culture, the intimate friend of Wentworth, of Wheelock, the president of Dartmouth College, of Parson Walker, and other eminent and learned men, Benjamin Thompson seemed riding on the highest wave of prosperity and happiness. Upon this brilliant day burst the storm of the Revolution.

Benjamin Thompson was as yet but twenty-two years of age. His sudden rise, his unvarying prosperity, and more than all, the governor's favor, had made him enemies, and a grand combination was made to crush him. Though inclined to the patriot cause, he was denounced as a Tory. Even the influence of the Walkers, who were ardent patriots, and known as such, could not save him. Fearing violence from a mob of village patriots, if he remained, young Thompson fled from his home in the night. The jealous officers continued to malign him, and the rumors spread through the American army. Suspected without cause, and wishing to obtain a commission in the patriot army, he demanded an inquiry. It resulted in a drawn verdict. After vainly trying to live down the ill odor by zealous army work on the American side, and finding himself still in danger from suspicion and hostility, he gave up the patriot cause in disgust, and fled to the British, in Boston. On the evacuation of that city he was entrusted with dispatches to Lord Germaine, in England.

This proved the turning point in Thompson's life. There was that about this man's bearing which always seemed to have given the impression of a person of distinguished worth. The British Secretary of State was immediately struck with the young American. He gave him employment in his office, where, evincing fertile resources and talents of the first order, Thompson rose to become Under Secretary of State in the colonial department. After the retirement of the Germaine ministry, he accepted a colonelcy, and was sent to this country; but the war closed before he had time to draw his sword.

Returning to England he obtained service under the Elector of Bavaria, and upon his departure was knighted, by which he became Sir Benjamin Thompson. It had been his intention to offer his services to Austria, but Prince Maximilian, having by chance become acquainted with him, and being deeply