The Creevey Papers
Samuel Whitbread to Thomas Creevey, 8 November 1809
“Southill, Nov. 8, 1809.
“. . . I am not surprised at people shaping towards
Canning, because, as our friend
Wilberforce shrewdly observes, he
and I have been long enough in the political world not to be surprised at
anything; but I know that those who shall trust a politician of that stamp,
deserve to be betrayed and will have their deserts. I hope at least I shall so
conduct myself as to deserve the approbation and support of the worthy part of
the community. . . . The Earl of Essex,
Lord Carrington and Mr. Giles are here, and the D. of Bedford, and the above-named noblesse
approve Southill. . . . Mr. Adkin is in
good health and trying ever and anon to repeat the stories he heard from you
when shooting together, in which he does not always succeed. Owen Williams is come to Bedford, is invited
to Southill and has accepted the invitation. I am not a little amused with the
liberty given to the Emperor of Austria to cut brushwood in certain forests
which are taken from him, together with other large territories, and I should
very much have liked to have been at the stag hunt at Fontainebleau. . .
.”
Thomas Adkin (1760-1809 fl.)
Of Downham Market, Norfolk; he was educated at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, where
he acquired a reputation as a roisterer, and was afterwards a close friend of Lord Grey and
Samuel Whitbread.
George Canning (1770-1827)
Tory statesman; he was foreign minister (1807-1809) and prime minister (1827); a
supporter of Greek independence and Catholic emancipation.
Daniel Giles (1761 c.-1831)
The son of Daniel Giles of the Bank of England, he was educated at Hertford College,
Oxford and Lincoln's Inn; he was a Whig MP for East Grinstead (1802-07) and St. Albans
(1809-12). He was a political acquaintance of William Lamb.
Robert Smith, first baron Carrington (1752-1838)
English banker, politician, and philanthropist; he was a Pittite MP for Nottingham
borough (1778-97), vice-president of the Literary Fund, and patronized William
Cowper.
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.
Owen Williams (1764-1832)
Educated at Westminster School, he was a Whig MP for Great Marlow (1796-1832); his wife
Margaret was the sister of Edward Hughes, Lord Dinorbin.
