The Creevey Papers
Thomas Creevey, Journal entry, 27 September-5 October 1809
“Thursday, 28th, till Oct. 5th.—. . . Conversation
after dinner and after supper always as artificial as the devil, Lord Grey shewing his spite at my conduct the last
session, and his own folly by the following observations made by
him—‘The Duke of
York’s business last session in the House of Commons
never gave the King a moment’s
uneasiness.’—‘The Duke of
York was the best Commander-in-chief the army ever had, except in the
field!’—‘Adam was used shamefully in the House of C. last
session.’—‘Lord
Castlereagh’s business in the House of Commons last
session about ![]()
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the writership did not do him the
slightest injury.’—‘Canning calling Coke of
Norfolk a landed grandee was damned
good.’—‘Romilly had entirely failed in the House of
Commons.’—‘The first man this country has seen
since Burke’s time is
Brougham.’—‘Piggott was the best speaker in the House next to
Canning.’ . . . Lord Grey
says tho’ he is against proscription in forming an administration, yet
Canning is the last man he would unite with.
“Mrs. Creevey
receives a letter from Lady Petre begging
her and me to write letters of introduction in Edinburgh for her son, young Lord Petre, who is going there.
Mrs. Creevey asks Lord
Grey to let her send a note to Alnwick to bring him and his
tutor over here. Lord and Lady Grey make
such difficulty about beds, and, in short, fling such cold water upon the
proposal, that we drop the subject. Take notice, there was room in the
house—plenty. Lord Petre’s family have spent
£15,000 at least in supporting Lord Grey’s party in
elections, &c., &c., besides great intimacy between the families. So
much for gratitude in political leaders to their supporters!. . .
William Adam (1751-1839)
Scottish barrister, Whig MP (1784-1812) and ally of Charles James Fox (whom he once
wounded in a duel); he was privy councillor (1815) and a friend of Sir Walter Scott.
Henry Peter Brougham, first baron Brougham and Vaux (1778-1868)
Educated at Edinburgh University, he was a founder of the
Edinburgh
Review in which he chastised Byron's
Hours of Idleness; he
defended Queen Caroline in her trial for adultery (1820), established the London University
(1828), and was appointed lord chancellor (1830).
Edmund Burke (1729-1797)
Irish politician and opposition leader in Parliament, author of
On the
Sublime and Beautiful (1757) and
Reflections on the Revolution
in France (1790).
George Canning (1770-1827)
Tory statesman; he was foreign minister (1807-1809) and prime minister (1827); a
supporter of Greek independence and Catholic emancipation.
Eleanor Creevey [née Branding] (d. 1818)
The daughter of Charles Branding (1733-1802); in 1779 she married William Ord (d. 1789)
and in 1802, the politician and diarist Thomas Creevey.
Frederick Augustus, Duke of York (1763-1827)
He was commander-in-chief of the Army, 1798-1809, until his removal on account of the
scandal involving his mistress Mary Anne Clarke.
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 Arthur Leary Pigott (1749-1819)
English lawyer educated at the Middle Temple; a political associate of Charles James Fox,
he was solicitor-general to the prince of Wales (1783-92), and MP for Steyning (1806),
Arundel (1806-12, 1818-19), and Horsham (1812-18).
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.
