The Creevey Papers
Thomas Creevey to Elizabeth Ord, 1 March 1824
“March 1.
“. . . On Saturday I dined at Hume’s, where I had the good fortune to
sit between Mina and one of the Greek
deputies. . . . Mina§ is my delight. Hobhouse wanted to flatter him at the expense
of Morillo, Abisbal
and Ballisteros, but
Mina would not touch it. He spoke in high terms of the
talents and courage of Morillo, and of the infinite
difficulties all Spaniards were surrounded with. If ever I saw an honest man,
he is one; and then he is so hearty and likeable. . . . Yesterday I made my
long owing visit at Holland House, and found my lord and my lady
alone—she with a bad cold, and he, of course, nursing her. My visit
seemed to answer, and I am to dine and stay all night there on Sunday. Would
you believe it? Lady H. wd. not let
Holland dine with Lord
Lansdowne
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| 1823-24.] | AT CROCKFORD’S. | 75 |
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last week—a dinner made
purposely for Mina, merely because she thought it might
not please the King if he heard of it! Nor
will she let Mina or any Spaniard approach Holland House
for the same reason. Was there ever such a ——?”
Francisco Ballesteros (1770-1832)
Spanish commander who fought against the French in the Peninsular War bu who refused to
accept Wellington's leadership; he was defeated in the subsequent Spanish civil war and
spent his later years in France.
Thomas Creevey (1768-1838)
Whig politician aligned with Charles James Fox and Henry Brougham; he was MP for Thetford
(1802-06, 1807-18) Appleby (1820-26) and Downton (1831-32). He was convicted of libel in
1813.
Elizabeth Fox, Lady Holland [née Vassall] (1771 c.-1845)
In 1797 married Henry Richard Fox, Lord Holland, following her divorce from Sir Godfrey
Webster; as mistress of Holland House she became a pillar of Whig society.
Henry Richard Fox, third baron Holland (1773-1840)
Whig politician and literary patron; Holland House was for many years the meeting place
for reform-minded politicians and writers. He also published translations from the Spanish
and Italian;
Memoirs of the Whig Party was published in 1852.
John Cam Hobhouse, baron Broughton (1786-1869)
Founder of the Cambridge Whig Club; traveled with Byron in the orient, radical MP for
Westminster (1820); Byron's executor; after a long career in politics published
Some Account of a Long Life (1865) later augmented as
Recollections of a Long Life, 6 vols (1909-1911).
Joseph Hume (1777-1855)
After service in India he became a radical MP for Weymouth (1812), Aberdeen (1818-30,
1842-55), Middlesex (1830-37), and Kilkenny (1837-41); he was an associate of John Cam
Hobhouse and a member of the London Greek Committee. Maria Edgeworth: “Don't like him
much; attacks all things and persons, never listens, has no judgment.”
Sir George Warrender, fourth baronet (1782-1849)
Educated at Christ Church, Oxford and Trinity College, Cambridge, he was MP for
Haddington (1807-12), Truro (1812-18), Westbury (1826-30) and Honiton (1830-32). He was
Lord of the Admiralty (1812-22).
