The Creevey Papers
Thomas Creevey to Elizabeth Ord, 3 November 1837
“Jermyn St., Nov. 3.
“Both Melbourne
and Lord and Lady John Russell wanted much to know from the
Seftons how it was that I had amused the Duchess of Kent. The only solution I can offer is
this. By common consent, the Royal evenings are the dullest possible, and no
one presumes to attempt to make them livelier. The Duchess of
Kent is supposed to play at cards to keep herself
awake—scarcely ever with success. I can imagine, therefore, a little
running fire of a wag tickling her ears at the time, and leaving a little
deposit on her memory. I know no other ground on which I can build my fame. . .
. Just let me mention that the Sir John
Harvey, mentioned in Wellesley’s letter as the new governor of Prince
Edward’s Island, was at the head of the police when I was in Dublin, and
I met him at dinner at the Lord Lieut.’s
[Wellesley]—a large, handsome man, but by far the
most vulgar would-be gentleman you ever beheld, extremely dressy withal, and my
lord always remembered my asking—‘Who was the gentleman with the
embroidered stomach?’”
Sir John Harvey (1778-1852)
He was an officer in the Anglo-American War of 1812–14 and colonial governor in
Canada.
William Lamb, second viscount Melbourne (1779-1848)
English statesman, the son of Lady Melbourne (possibly by the third earl of Egremont) and
husband of Lady Caroline Lamb; he was a Whig MP, prime minister (1834-41), and counsellor
to Queen Victoria.
Lady Adelaide Russell [née Lister] (1807-1838)
The daughter of Thomas Henry Lister; she married (1) Thomas Lister, second Baron
Ribblesdale (d. 1832), and (2) in 1835 Lord John Russell; she died in childbirth.
John Russell, first earl Russell (1792-1878)
English statesman, son of John Russell sixth duke of Bedford (1766-1839); he was author
of
Essay on the English Constitution (1821) and
Memoirs of the Affairs of Europe (1824) and was Prime Minister (1865-66).
Victoria Mary Louise, duchess of Kent (1786-1861)
The daughter of Francis, duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, in 1803 she married Emich Charles,
prince of Leiningen, and in 1818 the Duke of Kent. She was the mother of Queen
Victoria
Richard Wellesley, first marquess Wellesley (1760-1842)
The son of Garret Wesley (1735-1781) and elder brother of the Duke of Wellington; he was
Whig MP, Governor-general of Bengal (1797-1805), Foreign Secretary (1809-12), and
Lord-lieutenant of Ireland (1821-28); he was created Marquess Wellesley in 1799.
