The Creevey Papers
Capt. Graham Moore to Thomas Creevey, 19 September 1809
“Brook Farm, Cobham, Surrey, Sept. 19th, 1809.
“I go back to my ship on the 21st at Portsmouth, where
she arrived from the Scheldt with a cargo of sick. I expect to go with her
there, as we are to continue under the command of Sir Richard Strachan,* and as there are 200 of her seamen still
there in the gunboats, &c. It is my wish to serve with
Strachan, as I know him to be extremely brave and full
of zeal and ardour, at the same time that he is an excellent seaman, and,
tho’ an irregular, impetuous fellow, possessing very quick parts and an
uncommon share of sagacity and strong sense. I hope Walcheren will be evacuated
before we lose any more of our invaluable men. . . . The Cannings are in a damned dilemma with this
expedition and the victory of Talavera. They mean, I understand, to saddle poor
Lord Chatham with the first, but who
can they saddle the victory with? They dare not attack the
Wellesleys as they did my poor brother.† What a
cursed set you all are! I certainly far prefer your set, but your set bungled
miserably. However you are a more manly and gentlemanly set of bunglers and
![]()
![]()
| 96 | THE CREEVEY PAPERS | [Ch. V. |
![]()
jobbers than the self-sufficient, chattering, intriguing
Cannings. . . . I wish Parliament were met, for I long
to see these fellows forced from their seats. As to peace, I can see no
prospect of it as long as Bonoparte
exists; and I believe, for our comfort, he is a cursed temperate, hardy knave,
in mind and body. . . .”
George Canning (1770-1827)
Tory statesman; he was foreign minister (1807-1809) and prime minister (1827); a
supporter of Greek independence and Catholic emancipation.
Sir Graham Moore (1764-1843)
The son of Dr John Moore (1729-1802) and brother of General John Moore (1761-1809); after
a distinguished naval career he was lord of the Admiralty (1816-20) and commander-in-chief
of the Mediterranean Fleet (1820).
Sir John Moore (1761-1809)
A hero of the Peninsular Campaign, killed at the Battle of Corunna; he was the son of Dr.
John Moore, the author of
Zeluco.
Emperor Napoleon I (1769-1821)
Military leader, First Consul (1799), and Emperor of the French (1804), after his
abdication he was exiled to Elba (1814); after his defeat at Waterloo he was exiled to St.
Helena (1815).
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).
