Page:The Complete Peerage Ed 2 Vol 2.djvu/423

 BUCKINGHAM 407 1779, as Earl Temple, Viscount Cobham and Baron Cobham: took the names oi Nugent-Temple, before that of his patronymic Grenville, by Royal lie. 2 Dec. 1779; Lord Lieut, of Bucks, 1782 till his death; Lord Lieut. OF Ireland (ist time) July 1782 to June 1783, ('') and, as such, was the first who was Grand Master of the order of St. Patrick, founded 5 Feb. 1783, which is said to have owed its origin to his suggestion; P.C. 31 July 1782; Sec. of State Dec. 1783, for 4 days (on the formation of Pitt's ministry). On 4 Dec. 1784 he was cr. MARQUESS OF BUCKINGHAM, co. Buck- ingham. He was nom. K.G. 2 June 1786; inst. 29 May 1801. On 13 Oct. 1788, he sue. his wife's father as Earl Nugent [L] under the spec. lim. of that creation, 21 July 1776. He was Lord Lieut, of Ireland (for the 2nd time) Nov. 1787 to Oct. 1789. High Steward of Westm. 1794 till his death. Col. in the Army (during service) 1794. D.C.L. Oxford (together with his ist son) 3 July 18 10. He w., 16 Apr. 1775, at St. Margaret's, Westm., Mary Elizabeth, ist da. and coh. of Robert (Nugent), Earl Nugent [I.], by his 3rd wife, Elizabeth, Dowager Countess of Berkeley, da. of Henry Drax, of Ellerton Abbey, co. York. On 26 Dec. authority to state that the King regarded the supporters of the India Bill as his enemies; hence the lines in the Rolliad (part ii, no. 2), On the great day when Buckingham by pairs Ascended, Heav'n impelled, the K — 's backstairs, And panting, breathless, strained his lungs to show From Fox's bill what mighty ills would flow. Still, as with stammering tongue he told his tale Unusual terrors Brunswick's heart assail; Wide starts his white wig from his royal ear, And each particular hair stands stiff with fear. {ex inform, the Rev. A. B. Beaven). V.G. {") Horace Walpole says that this position, for which he was most unfit, was obtained by the influence of the Earl of Suffolk. He writes: " He was weak, proud, avaricious, peevish, fretful, and femininely observant of the punctilio of visits, and he had every one of those defects in the extreme with their natural concomitant, obstinacy. His wife had more sense with as much pride." Of his Irish administration Lord Charlemont writes in his memoirs: " Endowed by nature with excellent abilities, he rendered their effect tenfold by diligence. . . . His love of business was such that he seemed to have no other passion. He did everything himself, and consequently everything was well done." In another place he remarks: " His manners are by no means formed to please, and his address and first appearance is rather unfavourable. He knows a great deal, but is too fond of communicating that knowledge, and too verbose and minute. . . . He is proud and too apt to undervalue his equals; passionate and in his heat sometimes imprudent." As to his 2nd period of office, the same critic writes, 4 Jan. 1788, " If he comes over unincumbered by any damnable project, he will make an excellent Lieutenant: but if he has anything bad to push forward, no man can be more dangerous, since he will be skilful, violent, and obstinate, ' quicquid vult valde vult.' " V.G.