334 COMPLETE PEERAGE Auckland 1781-83. A Lord of Trade 1776-82. He accompanied the Earl of Car- lisle, as a Commissioner, to North America in 1778, and, as Chief Secretary, to Ireland 1780-82. P.C. [I.] 23 Dec. 1780, and [G.B.] 7 Apr. 1783, Joint Vice Treas. [I.] 1783-84. Envoy to France, on a special mission relating to commerce, 1785-87; F.R.S. 23 Mar. 1786. Ambassador to Spain, 1787-89, and to the United Provinces, or Netherlands, 1789-93. On 18 Nov. 1789, he was cr. BARON AUCKLAND [L], (") and (within four years) on 22 May 1793, he was cr. BARON AUCKLAND of West Auckland, co. Durham. [G.B.] C") Chanc. of Marischall Coll. Aberdeen, 1796-18 14. Joint Postmaster Gen., 1 798-1 804 ; Pres. of Board of Trade 1806-7. He w., 26 Sep. 1776, Eleanor, sister of Gilbert, ist Earl of MiNTO, and yst. da. of the Rt. Hon. Sir Gilbert Elliot, 3rd Bart. [S.], by Agnes, da. and h. of Hugh Dalrymple Murray Kynynmound, of Melgund, co. Forfar. He ^. 28 May 18 14, (") suddenly, of spasms, at Eden Farm, Beckenham, Kent, aged 70. Will dat. 14 Mar. 18 14, pr. (") See note mb Richard, Baron Penrhyn [1783]. () The arms of Lord Auckland are Gules, a cheveron between three golden sheaves banded vert, with three scallops sable on the cheveron. {ex inform. Oswald Barron.) V.G. (") " He had been called to the Bar, but being a bad orator had made no figure there. . . . He possessed a most insinuating gentle manner, which cover'd a deeply intriguing and ambitious spirit." (William Knox, i June 1779, in Hht. MSS. Com., Various MSS., vol. vi, pp. 265-6). "In person he rose above the ordinary height, his figure was elegant and wanted not grace. His countenance was thin and pale, his features regular and full of intelligence, his manners calm, polite and conciliating. There equally existed in Eden's physiognomy, even in his manner and deportment, something which did not convey the impression of plain dealing, or inspire confidence. " (JVraxalFs Memoirs). He was a shifty politician, originally a Tory, but supported the Coalition Govt., 1783-85, then deserted the Whigs and joined Pitt, who made him a member of the Council for affairs of trade, and (with a salary of ;^6ooo p.a.) Envoy for concluding a commercial treaty with France. When he apologised to Lord North, saying that it was not a political change, but only a temporary affair of negotiation of trade, the reply was that his Lordship " always considered the whole transaction as a mere affair of trade " ! He was attacked by the authors of the Rolliad for his conduct at this time, one couplet running : " Will you give a place ? my dearest Billy Pitt, o ! If I can't have a whole one, o give a little bit, o ! " and another quatrain being — " To all you young men who are famous for changing. From party to party continually ranging, I tell you the place of all places to breed in For maggots of corruption's the heart of Billy Eden. " " From his proficiency in the science of corruption, he was known in England by the name of the ' n?kan-monger. ' " (Lord Charlemont's Memoirs.) He held office in the Ministry of All the Talents (1806-7) and thereafter till his death acted with the Whigs, so that he was successively Tory, Whig, Tory again, Whig again I In private life he was an agreeable companion and amiable man. His 2nd br. was Governor of Maryland, and the 8th and yst. was cr. Baron Henley [I.]. V.G.
