BUTE, JOIIN STUART, third Earl of (1713-92). A -British statesman whom Wilkes reviled, at whom Junius thundered, and against whom Chatham declaimed as "one behind the throne greater than the throne itself." lle was born in Edinburgh, Slay 25, 1713, and succeeded to the peerage in 1723. He was educated at Eton and early showed a taste for mathematics, mechanics, and natural science, especially botany. About 1737 he attracted the favorable notice of Fred erick. Prince of Wales, who appointed him a lord of the bedchamber. After the death of the Prince he became Groom of the Stole to his son, afterwards George Ill., over whose mind he ob tained a strong influence. In March, 1761, he became Secretary of State, and was Premier from May, 1762, to April, 1763. His Government was one of the most unpopular that ever held office in Britain. its fundamental principle being royal autocracy. with an executive government of obe dient servants. In peril from mob violence, he re signed, but was always hated for his influence over the King. lie devoted himself to the sci• entific pursuits which had early attracted him; was a liberal patron of literature and art, and left an immense library, a fine collection of as tronomical and philosophical instruments, and a gallery of splendid pictures, preserved to this day. He died March 10, 1792, in his seventy
eighth year, from the effects of 'a fall from a cliff while botanizing.
(Nea-Lat., from John, Earl of Bute). A genus of plants of the order Legn minoste. The best-known species are Butra frondosa and Butea superba, natives of India: the former are very widely diffused throughout that country, generally appearing as a sort of shrub in the neighborhood of villages, but in the jungles growing into a small tree. These trees present a gorgeous sight when covered with racemes of large, deep-searlet flowers. They have trifoliate leaves, with roundish leaflets, velvety beneath. They yield a resinous exuda tion, which occurs in the form of lurid red tears, often covering the twigs, and is one of the kinds of lac brought to the market in India. Butea frondosa is called the Dhak or Pulas tree in In dia. The bark and roots are very fibrous, and the strong fibre is used for calking boats, rope making, etc. The flowers, called teesoo or kee soo, yield a beautiful yellow or orange dye. The gum exuded by Butea frondosa is said to contain more than 70 per cent. tannin.