The Creevey Papers
Thomas Creevey to Elizabeth Ord, 4 October 1827
“Raby Castle, Oct. 4th.
“. . . Lord
Londonderry is so disliked and despised in his own country that
it has been injurious to the Beau to be
shewn off by him.† . . . The Duke is Commander-in-chief and identifying
himself with the Old Tories, and the Bishop of
Durham gave him a dinner yesterday that has made the Marquess of Cleveland‡ shake in his shoes.
He, tho’ Lord-lieutenant, would not accept the Bishop’s invitation
to meet the Duke of Wellington, and we had quite a scene
between him and Lord William two days ago
about the latter going. However he was quite firm, and said nothing should
prevent him, as member for the county, accepting the invitation. All this on
Cleveland’s part was dirty toadying of the King
and Governt., saying this was an opposition Tory visit
of Wellington’s to the north. . . . The Marchioness
would have liked the fame of having the Beau here, and he
had promised Lady Caroline to come if he was asked; but Niffy Naffy
did not dare.”
Albert Denison, first Baron Londesborough (1805-1860)
The third son of Henry Conyngham, first Marquess Conyngham, educated at Eton College; he
served as a diplomat and was Liberal MP for Canterbury (1835-41, 1847-50), at which point
he changed his name. He was an author, antiquary, and collector.
William Van Mildert (1765-1836)
Educated at Merchant Taylors' School and Queen's College, Oxford, he was a high
churchman, editor of the
British Critic, bishop of Llandaff (1819),
dean of St. Paul's (1820), bishop of Durham (1826), and a founder of Durham
University.
Barbara Palmer, duchess of Cleveland [née Villiers] (1640-1709)
The daughter of William Villiers, second viscount Grandison (1614-1643) and mistress of
Charles II, who granted her the title in 1670. Her sexual adventures were detailed in
Delarivier Manley's
The New Atalantis (1709).
William Harry Vane, first duke of Cleveland (1766-1842)
The son of Henry Vane, second earl of Darlington (d. 1792); educated at Christ Church,
Oxford, he was a lifelong friend of Henry Brougham and a notable sportsman.
William John Frederick Vane, third duke of Cleveland (1792-1864)
The son of Sir William Henry Vane, first Duke of Cleveland; he assumed the name of
Powlett. He was educated at Brasenose College, Oxford, and was a Whig MP for Winchelsea
(1812-15), Durham County (1815-31), St. Ives (1846-52), and Ludlow (1852-57).
