The Creevey Papers
Thomas Creevey to Elizabeth Ord, 14 March 1831
“Tower, March 14th.
“. . . Sefton
was still too unwell to dine at Ld.
Grey’s, which was a terrible blow to us all; so Lady Sefton and Lady
Maria called at Mrs. Durham’s* for
me, and took me there. It was not a large party—the two female Seftons,
Lord Durham, Morpeth.† Duncannon,
Luttrell and myself, with the four
Greys and Charles
Greville. Grey was all alive o! quite
overflowing, never ceasing in his little civilities to myself, wanting me to
eat this or drink that:—‘Do, Creevey, I assure you it’s damned good; I know you
will like it.’ Can’t you see him? . . . It was not amiss
for a Prime Minister to call out at dinner:—‘Do you think,
Creevey, we shall carry our Reform Bill in the
Lords?’ . . . Lady Lyndhurst
came at night, and very handsome she looked, tho’ very near a woman of
colour. I did not know before that her first husband, Captn.
Thomas, was killed in the battle of Waterloo. . . .”
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.
Charles Cavendish Fulke Greville (1794-1865)
The son of Captain Charles Greville (1762-1832); he was educated at Eton College and at
Christ Church, Oxford, and was clerk-in-ordinary to the privy council. His famous
Diary began appearing in 1874.
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).
Henry Luttrell (1768-1851)
English wit, dandy, and friend of Thomas Moore and Samuel Rogers; he was the author of
Advice to Julia, a Letter in Rhyme (1820).
Lady Maria Molyneux (d. 1872)
The daughter of William Philip Molyneux, second Earl of Sefton; she died
unmarried.
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).
