The Creevey Papers
Thomas Creevey to James Currie, 2 April 1804
“2nd April.
“. . . The fact is I believe, as I have always done,
that the Regal function will never more be exercised by him (George III.), and the Dr.* has most impudently assumed these functions in doing what
he has done.
“And now again for speculation. I can swear to what
Sheridan will try for, if the thing
does not too suddenly come to a crisis. His insuperable vanity has suggested to
him the brilliancy of being first with the Prince and governing his councils. He will, if he sees it
practicable, try, and is now trying, to alienate the Prince from Fox, and to reconcile him to the wretched
Addington. The effect of such a
diabolical project is doubtless to be dreaded with a person so unsteady as the
Prince; but then again there are
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things that comfort me. If the Prince has a point on which
he is uniform, it is a proud and just attachment to the old Nobility of the
country, articles which fortunately find no place in the composition of the
present ministers. His notion, too, of Sheridan, I
believe, has not much to do with his qualities for a statesman. Devonshire
House, too, is his constant haunt, where every one is against
Sheridan; and where the Prince, at his own request,
met Grey three weeks ago and offered him any
pledge as a security for his calling Fox to his councils
whenever he had the power. Master Sherry does not know
this, and of course it must not be known; but I know it and am certain of the
fact. Sheridan displays evident distrust of his own
projects, and is basely playing an under game as
Fox’s friend, in the event of defeat to him and
his Dr. I never saw conduct more distinctly base than
his.”
Charles James Fox (1749-1806)
Whig statesman and the leader of the Whig opposition in Parliament after his falling-out
with Edmund Burke.
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).
Richard Brinsley Sheridan (1751-1816)
Anglo-Irish playwright, author of
The School for Scandal (1777),
Whig MP and ally of Charles James Fox (1780-1812).
