The Creevey Papers
Thomas Creevey to Elizabeth Ord, 9 September 1827
“. . . Lansdowne
has now compleated his own destruction by letting Prinney and Robinson force
Herries* down his throat. . . . What
a treasure on such a rainy day to have one’s Decline and Fall
with one. I really think it is a great business for such a lazy devil as myself
to have read every word of it. I except no book when I say no single author
supplies one with such useful or such general matter. Damn his writing, but his
stuff is invaluable.”
John Charles Herries (1778-1855)
Educated at Cheam and Leipzig University, he was private secretary to Spencer Percival,
auditor of the civil list (1816), and MP for Harwich (1823-41) and Stamford
(1847-53).
Frederick John Robinson, first earl of Ripon (1782-1859)
Educated at Harrow and St. John's College, Cambridge, he was a Tory MP for Carlow
(1806-07) and Ripon (1807-27), Chancellor of the Exchequer (1823-27), and prime minister
(1827-28) in succession to Canning.
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.
