426 CAULFIELD. replied, "Surely my lord, a body of troops formed on such principles, could not be so near one without a desire on my part to see their exertions in the field." The like attention was shewn every where by the officers of govern- ment; and whenever the king's troops, then under the chief command of General Burgoyne, met with the volun- teers, military honours were reciprocated. To Lord Char- lemont himself, as a commandant, every degree of military respect was paid by the king's troops wherever he passed. And on his road to Limeriek, passing through the town of Nenagh, a party of the 18th light dragoons insisted on mounting guard for him at his inn, whilst he staid, and a party of the same regiment escorted him on his journey, as far as he would permit. Earl Temple (afterwards Marquis of Buckingham) suc- ceeded the Duke of Portland in the viceroyalty in 1782; and, previous to his arrival, wrote to Lord Charlemont, announcing his appointment, and soliciting, as his prede- cessor had done, his lordship's support to his administra- tion. Lord Charlemont replied, by expressing his regret for the departure of the Duke of Portland, whose princi- ples and conduct had been the sole motive of his attach- ment and support ; and assuring the new viceroy of his support upon the same grounds only About this time, his majesty was pleased to found an order of knighthood in Ireland, by the appellation of The Knights of St. Patrick; and Earl Temple, who had his majesty's commands to select such a list of Irish names, as might best promote his majesty's intentions of placing this order on the most honourable footing-addressed, with his own hand, a letter to Lord Charlemont, stating, that he could not better promote his majesty's wishes, than by addressing himself to a nobleman, whose birth, rank, for- tune, and character, as well as his eminent public services, entitled him to the veneration and gratitude of his coun- try; and requesting permission to place his name on the list of new knights. This honour his lordship accepted with suitable expressions of his feelings for the distinction
