The Creevey Papers
Thomas Creevey to James Currie, 2 May 1804
“2nd May, 1804.
“. . . It is felt by the Pittites that the Prince and a Regency must be resorted to, and as
the Prince evinced on every occasion the strongest decision in favor of
Fox, the Pittites are preparing for a
reciprocity of good offices. God send we may have a Regency, and then the cards
are in our hands. I wish you had seen the party of which I formed one in the
park just now. Lord Buckingham, his son
Temple, Ld.
Derby, Charles Grey,*
Ld. Fitzwilliam, Canning, Ld.
Morpeth† and Ld.
Stafford.‡ . . . The four
physicians were at Buckingham House this morning: feel certain he (the
King) is devilish bad. . . .”
George Canning (1770-1827)
Tory statesman; he was foreign minister (1807-1809) and prime minister (1827); a
supporter of Greek independence and Catholic emancipation.
William Wentworth Fitzwilliam, second earl Fitzwilliam (1748-1833)
The nephew of the Marquis of Rockingham and lifelong friend of Charles James Fox and Lord
Carlisle; he was president of the Council (1806-07) and lieutenant of the West Riding from
1798 to 1819 when he was dismissed for his censure of the Peterloo massacre.
Charles James Fox (1749-1806)
Whig statesman and the leader of the Whig opposition in Parliament after his falling-out
with Edmund Burke.
Charles Grey, second earl Grey (1764-1845)
Whig statesman and lover of the Duchess of Devonshire; the second son of the first earl
(d. 1807), he was prime minister (1831-34).
George Howard, sixth earl of Carlisle (1773-1848)
Son of the fifth earl (d. 1825); he was educated at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford, wrote
for the
Anti-Jacobin, and was MP for Morpeth (1795-1806) and
Cumberland (1806-28).
Edward Smith Stanley, twelfth earl of Derby (1752-1834)
Grandson of the eleventh earl (d. 1776); educated at Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge,
he was a Whig MP for Lancashire, a friend of Charles James Fox, nephew of John Burgoyne,
and a committed sportsman.
