The Creevey Papers
Thomas Creevey to Eleanor Creevey, 21 February 1810
“21st.—Called on
Waithman* with some anxiety that he
was going to fail on Friday on the question in the Common Council about
Wellington’s pension, but he
seems confident they shall not. He at once embraced my idea of what ought to be
done, and of
* Robert
Waithman [1764-1833], an active reformer, whose career
is commemorated in the name of a street near Blackfriars Bridge, and by
one of the two obelisks in Ludgate Circus. |
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| 130 | THE CREEVEY PAPERS | [Ch. VI. |
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his own accord requested me to draw a petition for them to
the House of Commons, of which I think I can make a very good case for them,
and a damned pinching one for Wellington. . . . Dined at
Sam Heywood’s, with Lords
Grey, Lauderdale and Derby,
Romilly, &c. . . .
Lord Derby told us that Sir Henry Halford had told him yesterday that he had been
detained the Lord knows how long with Lord
Chatham, making him up by draughts and nervous medicines for his
examination last night, and after all he sent word he was ill, and could not
come. . . .
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).
Sir Henry Halford, first baronet (1766-1844)
The second son of James Vaughan MD of Leicester; a court physician, he was created
baronet in 1814 and was president of the College of Physicians (1820-1844).
Samuel Heywood (1753-1828)
English barrister, serjeant-at-law (1794) and chief justice of the Carmarthen circuit
(1807-28); he was a friend and associate of Charles James Fox.
James Maitland, eighth earl of Lauderdale (1759-1839)
Scottish peer allied with Charles James Fox; he was author of
An
Inquiry into the Nature and Origin of Public Wealth, and into the Means and causes of
its Increase (1804) and other works on political economy.
John Pitt, second earl of Chatham (1756-1835)
The eldest son of the elder Pitt and favourite of George III; as lieutenant-general he
led the Walcheren expedition (1809).
Sir Samuel Romilly (1757-1818)
Reformer of the penal code and the author of
Thoughts on Executive
Justice (1786); he was a Whig MP and Solicitor-General who died a suicide.
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.
Robert Waithman (1764-1833)
Political reformer, MP, and Lord Mayor of London (1823-24); he was a linen-draper by
trade.
