The Creevey Papers
Samuel Whitbread to Thomas Creevey, 10 November 1809
“Southill, Nov. 10, 1809.
“. . . Tom
Adkin, who went to Bedford yesterday to meet his friend
Williams at Palmer’s, was the
first person who told us of the King’s
letter to Perceval. Notwithstanding the
awful presence of the Duke and the other
Lords, he had got very drunk, and in his drunkenness he related this story,
which he prefaced, as usual, by saying he had a fact to
relate; which fact everybody laughed at; but the next morning Lord Carrington showed me a letter from Horner,
in which the same story is told very circumstantially, and his lordship was
very much surprized that what was said by Mr. Adkin
‘in that wild way’ should turn out to be true. I have no
doubt that it is so, but the madness and folly of Perceval
is inconceivable. Does he quite forget the narrow escape his administration had
at starting from the mess made of Canning’s trial? ![]()
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Tierney had not seen the letter when he
was here, or, if he had, he was silent about it. Neither did he mention to us
Perceval’s letter to the D. of Northumberland, altho’ there was some
discussion about the Earl Percy’s
taking a seat at the Treasury Board.
“. . . I delight in the stoutness of Lord Holland: I believe him to have principles
and to be capable of conduct worthy of his name: but he is hampered. It is a
most fortunate circumstance that Canning
has given mortal offence at Holland House. The wounds are deep, and I hope
incurable. . . . You will hear Martyn’s language
from many mouths—great lamentation at our not hanging together. I shall
be still the person blamed; but do you think in the present state of affairs
that if either Lord Henry Petty or
Lord George Cavendish were to be
acknowledged by me as leader in the House of Commons there would be a chance of
keeping a party together? Should I not lose all power in one way and gain
nothing in the other? Should I not bind myself to a compact I could not keep?
Should I not at every turn be said to be endeavouring to outstrip my leader?
and would it not be confusion worse confounded? Yet I suppose these are the
only nostrums recommended. I cannot take them—this is between ourselves.
. . . Pray tell me what Lord Derby says
and pray tell me whether the report be true or false respecting Burdett’s declaration against the
Catholick Question. . . .”
Thomas Adkin (1760-1809 fl.)
Of Downham Market, Norfolk; he was educated at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, where
he acquired a reputation as a roisterer, and was afterwards a close friend of Lord Grey and
Samuel Whitbread.
Sir Francis Burdett, fifth baronet (1770-1844)
Whig MP for Westminster (1807-1837) who was imprisoned on political charges in 1810 and
again in 1820; in the 1830s he voted with the Conservatives.
George Canning (1770-1827)
Tory statesman; he was foreign minister (1807-1809) and prime minister (1827); a
supporter of Greek independence and Catholic emancipation.
George Cavendish, first earl of Burlington (1754-1834)
The son of William Cavendish, fourth Duke of Devonshire; he was a Whig MP for
Knaresborough (1775-80), Derby borough (1780-97), and Derbyshire (1797-1831); he was raised
to the peerage in 1831.
Henry Richard Fox, third baron Holland (1773-1840)
Whig politician and literary patron; Holland House was for many years the meeting place
for reform-minded politicians and writers. He also published translations from the Spanish
and Italian;
Memoirs of the Whig Party was published in 1852.
Spencer Perceval (1762-1812)
English statesman; chancellor of the exchequer (1807), succeeded the Duke of Portland as
prime minister (1809); he was assassinated in the House of Commons.
Hugh Percy, second duke of Northumberland (1742-1817)
Son of the first duke (d. 1786), he was educated at Eton and St John's College,
Cambridge; after serving as a major general in the early days of the American Revolution he
was a political opponent of William Pitt.
Hugh Percy, third duke of Northumberland (1785-1847)
The son of the second duke (d. 1817), he was educated at Eton and St John's College,
Cambridge, and before succeeding to the title was a Tory MP for Buckingham (1806),
Westminster (1806), Launceston (1806-07), and Northumberland (1807-12). He was
lord-lieutenant of Ireland (1829-30).
Robert Smith, first baron Carrington (1752-1838)
English banker, politician, and philanthropist; he was a Pittite MP for Nottingham
borough (1778-97), vice-president of the Literary Fund, and patronized William
Cowper.
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.
George Tierney (1761-1830)
Whig MP and opposition leader whose political pragmatism made him suspect in the eyes of
his party; he fought a bloodless duel with Pitt in 1798. He is the “Friend of Humanity” in
Canning and Frere's “The Needy Knife-Grinder.”
Owen Williams (1764-1832)
Educated at Westminster School, he was a Whig MP for Great Marlow (1796-1832); his wife
Margaret was the sister of Edward Hughes, Lord Dinorbin.
