The Creevey Papers
Henry Brougham to Thomas Creevey, 19 July 1821
“London, 19 July, 1821.
“Dear C.,
“This town is in a state of general lunacy beginning
most certainly with the Illustrious Person
on the throne. Geo. 3. was an ill used man
to be shut up for 10 years. His son has slept none, I believe, since you left
town; nor will, till it is over. Yesterday he went for near 3 hours to
Buckingham House, where Lawrence was
painting Lady Conynghame. He then came back
and had another row with his ministers, having been all Saturday and half of
Sunday in a squabble with them; and, soon after he was housed, there drove
along the Mall furiously a carriage and four, which was followed by my
informant and found to contain old
Wellesley in person. He was actually traced into Carlton House
by the back door. You may make what you please of this,* but the fact is
undoubted, as Duncannon and Calcraft were the persons who saw him.
“To-day the Q.’s being allowed to enter the Abbey is doubted . . .
but I still think it possible the Big Man may have gout and not be up to
it.†
“Yours,
“H. B.”
John Calcraft the younger (1765-1831)
The illegitimate son of John Calcraft (d. 1772), he was educated at Harrow and Eton and
was a member of the Whig Club and MP for Wareham (1800-06, 1818-31), Rochester (1806-18),
and Dorset (1831). He cut his throat after betraying the Tories and voting for the Reform
Bill.
Queen Caroline of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel (1768-1821)
Married the Prince of Wales in 1795 and separated in 1796; her husband instituted
unsuccessful divorce proceedings in 1820 when she refused to surrender her rights as
queen.
Sir Thomas Lawrence (1769-1830)
English portrait painter who succeeded Joshua Reynolds as painter in ordinary to the king
(1792); he was president of the Royal Academy (1820).
John William Ponsonby, fourth earl of Bessborough (1781-1847)
The son of Frederick Ponsonby, third earl of Bessborough (d. 1844) and elder brother of
Lady Caroline Lamb; he was a Whig MP (1805-34), home secretary (1834-35), and
lord-lieutenant of Ireland (1846-47).
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.
