The Creevey Papers
Henry Grey Bennet to Thomas Creevey, 12 July 1815
“12th.
“. . . I delay sending this to say that Tavistock moved yesterday the writ in the most
perfect and [illegible] manner: there was not a dry eye
in the House. Wilberforce said he always
considered Whitbread as the true [illegible], possessing all the virtues of the character,
tho’ with its foibles, and that he was one of the public treasures.
Vansittart deeply regretted his loss,
and allowed that, when most in opposition to them, he was always manly, honest,
[illegible] and true, and that he was an ornament to
his country. Thus ended the saddest day I have yet seen in the House of
Commons. Tierney sobbed so, he was
unable to speak; I never saw a more affecting scene. . . .”
Francis Russell, seventh duke of Bedford (1788-1861)
Son of the sixth Duke (d. 1839); he took an MA from Trinity College, Cambridge in 1808
and served as Whig MP for Peterborough between 1809 and 1812 and for Bedfordshire between
1812 and 1832. He succeeded to the title in 1833.
George Tierney (1761-1830)
Whig MP and opposition leader whose political pragmatism made him suspect in the eyes of
his party; he fought a bloodless duel with Pitt in 1798. He is the “Friend of Humanity” in
Canning and Frere's “The Needy Knife-Grinder.”
Nicholas Vansittart, first Baron Bexley (1766-1851)
Educated at Christ Church, Oxford, he was a Pittite MP for Hastings (1796-1802), Old
Sarum (1802-12), East Grinstead (1812), and Harwich (1812-23); he was Chancellor of the
exchequer (1812-23).
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.
William Wilberforce (1759-1833)
British statesman, evangelical Christian, and humanitarian who worked for the abolition
of slavery. He was an MP for Yorkshire aligned with Fox and Sheridan.
