The Creevey Papers
Thomas Creevey, Journal entry, 6 November 1809
“Monday, Nov. 6.—I learn
from Whishaw—a particular friend
of mine, who lives almost entirely at Holland House—that the language now
held there is that Grey and Whitbread are become quite united again in
politicks—that all differences are at an end—that Lord Ponsonby (Lady
Grey’s brother) is gone to Southill to confirm the union,
and that Tierney and the Duke of Bedford are to go from Woburn to Southill
on Tuesday, and Lord Carrington, Lord Essex, and Giles of the House of Commons [illegible] the same day, and all this visiting is represented at Holland
House as a political mission to Whitbread to confirm him
in his reported reconciliation with Grey. All this
evidently got up by Tierney. There is no foundation
whatever for saying Grey and
Whitbread are more alike in politicks than they have
been these two years. Tierney used to tell everybody, as
he has often done me, that Grey and
Whitbread were more separated than they actually were,
because he then thought he could do without Whitbread; and
the sooner he was flung off the better. Now he finds he can’t do without
him, and he states, without an atom of foundation, that
Grey and Whitbread are the same,
and tries to cajole Whitbread into thinking so. I write to
Whitbread and tell him all I hear from Holland House.
Daniel Giles (1761 c.-1831)
The son of Daniel Giles of the Bank of England, he was educated at Hertford College,
Oxford and Lincoln's Inn; he was a Whig MP for East Grinstead (1802-07) and St. Albans
(1809-12). He was a political acquaintance of William Lamb.
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).
John Ponsonby, viscount Ponsonby (1770 c.-1855)
The son of William Brabazon Ponsonby, first Baron Ponsonby (d. 1806); he was a Whig MP
for Galway Town (1801-02); when not having affairs with Lady Jersey and Harriette Wilson he
pursued a career as a diplomat.
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.
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.”
John Whishaw (1764 c.-1840)
Barrister, educated at Trinity College, Cambridge; he was Secretary to the African
Association and biographer of Mungo Park. His correspondence was published as
The “Pope” of Holland House in 1906.
Samuel Whitbread (1764-1815)
The son of the brewer Samuel Whitbread (1720-96); he was a Whig MP for Bedford, involved
with the reorganization of Drury Lane after the fire of 1809; its financial difficulties
led him to suicide.
