The Creevey Papers
Thomas Creevey to Elizabeth Ord, 16 August 1820
“London, 16th August.
“. . . I am just come from Lord Sefton. I learn from him that Lord Spencer has had an interview with Lord Liverpool, the object of it being friendly
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on the part of Lord Spencer, at the
same time to implore Liverpool to pause, and to retract
indeed, before this terrible work was entered upon.
Liverpool was friendly in return, and quite
unreserved. . . . Lord Spencer was decidedly of opinion
that the very openness of the Queen’s conduct carried with it her acquittal from the
supposed crime. This is most curious from such a solemn chap as old
Spencer. . . .”
“House of Lords, August 16th.
“. . . This is very convenient. There is not only
the usual admission for the House of Commons upon the [steps of] the Throne,*
but pen, ink and paper for our accommodation in the long gallery. There is a
fine chair for the Queen within the bar,
to be near her counsel and the two galleries. This makes all the difference.
Two hundred and fifty peers are to attend, 60 being excused from age,
infirmities, being abroad or professing the Catholic faith.
“Wilberforce
told Bennet that the act of his life
which he most reproached himself with was not having moved to restore the
Queen to the Liturgy, and he was sure
this was the only course. Grey says the
Queen ought to be sent to the Tower for her letter to the King.
“Here is Castlereagh, smiling as usual, though I think awkwardly. . . .
Sir Thomas Tyrwhitt has just been
here and tho’ in his official dress as Black Rod, was most communicative.
He says the Government is stark, staring mad; that they want to prevent his
receiving the Queen to-morrow at the door
as Queen, but that he will. . . .”
Henry Grey Bennet (1777-1836)
The son of Charles Bennet, fourth earl of Tankerville; educated at Eton and Peterhouse,
Cambridge, he was a Whig MP for MP for Shrewsbury (1806-07, 1811-26) and a legal
reformer.
Queen Caroline of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel (1768-1821)
Married the Prince of Wales in 1795 and separated in 1796; her husband instituted
unsuccessful divorce proceedings in 1820 when she refused to surrender her rights as
queen.
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).
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.
Sir Thomas Tyrwhitt (1762-1833)
The nephew of the scholar of the same name; he was educated at Eton and Christ Church,
Oxford, and was MP for Okehampton (796-1802), Portarlington (1802-06) and Plymouth
(1806-12), private secretary to the Duke of Clarence, and Black Rod.
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.
