Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 41.djvu/265

 earl of Kildare; Mary, first wife of Anthony O'Dempsey, heir-apparent to Terence, first viscount Clanmalier; Eleanor, wife of Christopher Chevers of Macetown, co. Meath; Margaret, who married a Fitzgerald; Juliana, second wife of Sir Gerald Aylmer of Donade, co. Kildare.

Delvin was the author of: 1. 'A Primer of the Irish Language, compiled at the request and for the use of Queen Elizabeth.' It is described by Mr. J. T. Gilbert (Account of Facsimiles of National MSS. of Ireland, p. 187) as a 'small and elegantly written vo- lume,' consisting of 'an address to the queen in English, an introductory statement in Latin, followed by the Irish alphabet, the vowels, consonants, and diphthongs, with words and phrases in Irish, Latin, and English.' 2. 'A Plot for the Reformation of Ireland' (preserved in 'State Papers,' Ireland, Eliz. cviii. 38, and printed by Mr. J. T. Gilbert in 'Account of National MSS. of Ireland,' pp. 189-95), which, though short, is not without interest, as expressing the views of what may be described as the moderate or constitutional party in Ireland as distinct from officialdom on the one hand, and the mere Irishry on the other. He complains that the viceroy's authority is too absolute; that the institution of presidents of provinces is unnecessary; that justice is not administered impartially; that the people are plundered by a beggarly soldiery, who find it to their interest to create dissensions; that the prince's word is pledged recklessly and broken shamelessly, and, above all, that there is no means of education such as is furnished by a university provided for the gentry, 'in myne opynion one of the cheifest causes of mischeif in the realme.'

 NUGENT, CHRISTOPHER (d. 1731), soldier, was the eldest son of Francis Nugent of Dardistown, co. Meath, and Bridget, sister of William Dongan, created Earl of Limerick in 1685. He represented the borough of Fore in the parliament of 1689, and was attached to the first troop of Irish horseguards in 1691. After the capitulation of Limerick he elected to go to France, and arrived at Brest on 3 Dec. 1691. He was given a command in the army for the invasion of England in 1692, and afterwards served with the Irish horseguards in Flanders. In 1694 he served with the army of Germany, under the Duc de Lorges, and with the army of the Moselle in 1695. On 25 May 1695 he was appointed ‘mestre-de-camp de cavalerie,’ and continued with the army of the Moselle in 1696–7. On the disbandment of the Irish horseguards on 27 Feb. 1698, he was attached as ‘mestre-de-camp’ to the reformed regiment of Sheldon. He joined the army of Italy in July 1701, fought under Villeroi at Chiari on 1 Sept., and under Vendome at Luzzara on 15 Aug. 1702. In the following year he served with the army of Germany, and in Flanders in 1704. He was created brigadier on 1 March 1705, and, on the retirement of Colonel Sheldon, succeeded to the command of the regiment on 16 Jan. 1706. He changed its name to that of Nugent, and commanded it at Ramillies, Oudenarde, and Malplaquet. During the winter of 1711–12 he was employed about Calais, was present at the battle of Denain on 24 July 1712, and at the siege of Douay in September. The following year he was transferred to the army of Germany, was present at the siege of Landau (June–August), at the defeat of General Vaubonne on 20 Sept., and the capture of Freiburg im Breisgau in November. In 1714 he served with the army of the Lower Meuse. But having in 1715 accompanied the Old Pretender to Scotland without permission, he was, on the remonstrance of the British ambassador in Paris, deprived of his regiment, which, however, was conferred on his son; and on 13 Sept. 1718 he was promoted maréchal-de-camp or major-general of horse. He died on 4 June 1731. He married Bridget, second daughter of Robert Barnewall, ninth lord Trimleston, by whom he had one son, who succeeded him.

 NUGENT, CHRISTOPHER (d. 1775), physician, was born in Ireland and, after graduating M.D. in France, went into practice, first in the south of Ireland, and afterwards at Bath, where he had considerable success. In 1753 he published in London ‘An Essay on the Hydrophobia.’ The book begins with a clear account of the successful treatment by him in June 1751 of a servant-maid who had been bitten by a mad turnspit dog in two places, and had true hydrophobia. He treated her chiefly by powders of musk and cinnabar. In sixty-seven subsequent sections he discusses with good sense the mental and physical aspects  