The Creevey Papers
Samuel Whitbread to Sir Arthur Wellesley, 30 July 1809
“Southill, July 30, 1809.
“Dear Sir,
“I am very much concern’d to find by a letter I
have received from Genl. Ferguson,
inclosing one from you to him, that a report in some of the newspapers of what
I am supposed to have said in ![]()
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the House of Commons
relative to the operations of the army under your command at Oporto has been
the cause of any uneasiness to you. You know full well that the newspapers very
commonly misrepresent what falls from members of Parliament, and that it is
impossible to answer for what is put in by the reporters. In this case I really
don’t know what I have been made to say, but I can venture to assure you
that nothing disrespectful towards yourself ever fell from my mouth, because
all the feelings of my mind are of a nature so entirely the reverse. I have
upon all occasions expressed my real opinion of you, and I trust that political
differences have never led me, even in public, to underrate your past services,
or my hopes of your future ones. I daresay I did express my opinion that the
rejoicings of your friends in power upon the receipt of your Dispatch was
greater than the occasion call’d for, in which was not to be included any
sentiment derogatory to you. I am sorry that your very important occupations
should be interrupted, even for the short time necessary to read this letter,
by any circumstance relating to me; but I could not help writing to you, and I
must detain you one moment longer to assure you that I wish you all possible
success, and that I expect from an army commanded by you every happy result
that its strength can possibly effect.
“I am, My dear Sir, Your very faithful
servant,
Sir Ronald Craufurd Ferguson (1773-1841)
Scottish officer who served in India and fought with a Highland brigade; he was MP for
Dysart (1806-30) and Nottingham (1830-41).
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.
