The Creevey Papers
Thomas Creevey to Elizabeth Ord, 23 October 1820
“House of Lords, Oct. 23rd, 2 o’clock.
“Premièrement, let me bring up the rear of my narrative
respecting the King of New Zealand. It is confidently reported that
en derrière both his Majesty
and his Minister are much more profusely decorated with ornamental carving than
on their faces—but you’ll not quote me!
“Sefton told me
last night of a conversation he had had with Thanet. It seems Lady
Holland had complained to the latter in the strongest terms of
my conduct to Tierney on Tuesday, and
had stated that Cole was hurt by it to the last
degree.—‘What did Thanet do or
say?’ says I.—‘Why,’ says
Sefton, ‘he ![]()
| 1819-20.] | MR. DENMAN SUMS UP. | 331 |
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snorted out into a loud laugh—said you
was quite right, and that the Whigs were little better than old
apple-women.’—This was a great relief to me; tho’ I
was quite sure from Thanet’s manner all was right;
but I shd. certainly have felt myself bound to surrender my seat had we
differed about it. . . . Yesterday I dined at Brooks’s with Ossulston: to-day I dine at the Derbys, with Brougham, Denman, the
Seftons, and a huge party, I believe. . . . Grey, according to custom, has done all the harm
he could. He is more provoking in all he does than these villains of Ministers
themselves. However, thank God the case for the Queen is closed, and all looks well.”
Charles Augustus Bennet, fifth earl of Tankerville (1776-1859)
Son of Charles Bennet, the fourth earl (d. 1822); educated at Eton, he was Whig MP for
Steyning (1803-06), Knaresborough (1806-18), and Berwick-on-Tweed) (1820-22); in 1806 he
married Armandine Sophie Leonie Corisande de Gramont.
Henry Peter Brougham, first baron Brougham and Vaux (1778-1868)
Educated at Edinburgh University, he was a founder of the
Edinburgh
Review in which he chastised Byron's
Hours of Idleness; he
defended Queen Caroline in her trial for adultery (1820), established the London University
(1828), and was appointed lord chancellor (1830).
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.
Thomas Denman, first baron Denman (1779-1854)
English barrister and writer for the
Monthly Review; he was MP,
solicitor-general to Queen Caroline (1820), attorney-general (1820), lord chief justice
(1832-1850). Sydney Smith commented, “Denman everybody likes.”
Elizabeth Fox, Lady Holland [née Vassall] (1771 c.-1845)
In 1797 married Henry Richard Fox, Lord Holland, following her divorce from Sir Godfrey
Webster; as mistress of Holland House she became a pillar of Whig society.
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).
Edward Smith Stanley, twelfth earl of Derby (1752-1834)
Grandson of the eleventh earl (d. 1776); educated at Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge,
he was a Whig MP for Lancashire, a friend of Charles James Fox, nephew of John Burgoyne,
and a committed sportsman.
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.”
