The Creevey Papers
Thomas Creevey to Eleanor Creevey, 26 May 1812
“House of Commons, Tuesday, 26th.
“. . . Well: nothing is known to-day except that
Prinney saw both Eldon and Liverpool yesterday for a long time before he saw Wellesley, and that a Cabinet Council of the old
Ministers was summoned to Liverpool’s office last
night, and sat for a long time. . . . Well, the jaw is over. Castlereagh says the old Government is still out,
and he knows nothing of any new one. It is true that
Prinney told Wellesley that
Grey and Grenville were a couple of scoundrels, and ![]()
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that Moira was a fellow no honest man could
speak to. Wellesley then told him the danger he was
exposed to, both himself, his throne and his country, washed his hands of him
and his concerns, and is actually gone out of town. Ferguson told me he knew all this, and of course
Moira is his authority. Canning
will have nothing to do with the old Government, and has just renewed his
motion about the Catholic question. Prinney must be stark
staring mad, by God! . . . The projected exclusion of Whitbread from the new Cabinet is spreading
like wildfire against Grey and
Grenville.”
Sir Ronald Craufurd Ferguson (1773-1841)
Scottish officer who served in India and fought with a Highland brigade; he was MP for
Dysart (1806-30) and Nottingham (1830-41).
William Wyndham Grenville, baron Grenville (1759-1834)
Educated at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford, he was a moderate Whig MP, foreign secretary
(1791-1801), and leader and first lord of the treasury in the “All the Talents” ministry
(1806-1807). He was chancellor of Oxford University (1810).
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).
John Scott, first earl of Eldon (1751-1838)
Lord chancellor (1801-27); he was legal counsel to the Prince of Wales and an active
opponent of the Reform Bill.
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.
Samuel Whitbread (1764-1815)
The son of the brewer Samuel Whitbread (1720-96); he was a Whig MP for Bedford, involved
with the reorganization of Drury Lane after the fire of 1809; its financial difficulties
led him to suicide.
