When Lord George Germain became one of his Majesty’s principal Secretaries of State, November 10, a commission was issued under the great seal ‘for the restoration of public tranquillity among his Majesty’s deluded subjects in the affected colonies.’ A proclamation said: ‘Apprised of the fatal consequence of the conduct they had adopted, and seeing the determined spirit of the nation to maintain its constitutional rights, they will avail themselves of the means which the justice and benevolence of the supreme legislature have held out to them of being restored to the King’s grace and peace.’ This failed utterly, from ignorance of the depth of opposition in the colonies. Boston was evacuated in March 1776, and Mr. Thompson was sent to England with the news. He was probably thought perfectly qualified to answer every question relative to his Majesty’s service. Cuvier says, ‘La bonne mine du jeune officier, la netteté et l’étendue des renseignements qu’il donna, prévinrent en sa faveur le secrétaire d’État au département de l’Amérique.’ His news caused no great distress, and his information must have reassured the minister, for even in June Lord G. Germain and the Prime Minister wrote to General Howe on the good prospect of an end being put to the rebellion in one campaign. It was the good news from Canada that helped to deceive them. Mr. Thompson was taken into Lord George Germain’s office, and he was appointed Secretary of the Province of Georgia. In the autumn of 1777 Thompson was at Bath for his health, drinking the waters. Whilst there he made some experiments on the cohesive strength of different substances. These led to no great results, but he communicated them to Sir Joseph Banks, the new President of the Royal Society. Sir W. Howe was at this time asking for large reinforcements. He thus wrote to Lord G. Germain from Philadelphia: ‘From the little attention, my Lord, given to my recommendations since the commencement of my command, I am led to hope that I may be relieved from this very painful service wherein I have not the good fortune to enjoy the necessary confidence and support of my superiors, but which I conclude will be extended to Sir Henry Clinton, my presumptive successor.’