The Creevey Papers
Rev. William Price to the Prince Regent, 1 February 1806
“55, Upper John St., Fitzroy Square, Feb. 1st, 1806.
“Sir,
“Permit me to observe to Your Royal Highness, that few events in the course of my Life have
impress’d me with more uneasiness than the Letter ![]()
| 1806-08.] | CREEVEY IN OFFICE. | 77 |
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which I have receiv’d from Col. McMahon in which is intimated Your Royal
Highness’s commands that I give my Interest to Lord Henry Petty as a Candidate for the University of
Cambridge.
“I beg with all humility to assure Your Royal
Highness, my Inclination no less than my Duty would dictate an obedience to
Your Royal Highness upon this and every occasion, but I am to lament when I had
the Honor to attend his Majesty at St. James’s with the Address from the
University of Cambridge, Lord Spencer
solicited my Vote in behalf of his Son Lord
Althorp, when I, not conceiving Your Royal Highness had any
commands on this occasion, promis’d to Lord Spencer
that Vote which he now claims, informing me Your Royal Highness assur’d
him yesterday you wou’d not have interfer’d in opposition to
Ld. Althorp, had you known his intention to offer
himself. I am therefore humbly to solicit Your Royal Highness’s
indulgence, and that I may not suffer in your estimation on this occasion, and
beg to profess how greatly I feel in Duty and Obedience.
“Your Royal Highness’s most devoted
and
most humble Servant and Chaplain,
Sir John McMahon, first baronet (1754 c.-1817)
Irish politician who was MP for Aldeburgh (1802-12); he was a friend of Sheridan and
secretary to the Prince Regent.
William Price (1752 c.-1811)
Educated at Westminster School, Trinity College, Cambridge, and Lincoln's Inn, he was
rector of Great Houghton, Northamptonshire (1782-1804) and chaplain to the Prince
Regent.
George John Spencer, second earl Spencer (1758-1834)
Educated at Harrow and Trinity College, Cambridge, he was a Whig MP aligned with Edmund
Burke, first lord of the Admiralty (1794-1801) and home secretary (1806-07). He was a book
collector and patron of the poets John Clare and Herbert Knowles.
John Charles Spencer, third earl Spencer (1782-1845)
English politician, son of the second earl (d. 1834); educated at Harrow and Trinity
College, Cambridge, he was Whig MP for Northamptonshire (1806-34) and chancellor of the
exchequer and leader of the lower house under Lord Grey (1830).
