The Creevey Papers
Earl of Sefton to Thomas Creevey, 24 November 1832
“Nov. 24th.
“I have been at work for you this morning, and am
much satisfied with the result. Brougham
says you cannot be left in the lurch, and laughs at the Isle of Man. Wood says, ‘Very well: things must
remain as they are at present, and we must try and find something that will
suit him.’ Ellis [? Ellice] was present: they both volunteered saying you had the first
claim of anybody, and MUST be considered; that even if
you had no place now, you wd. have irresistible claims both on party and private grounds. In
short, you stand as well as possible, if you don’t take the romantic
line, of which I know by experience you are quite capable.”
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).
Thomas Creevey (1768-1838)
Whig politician aligned with Charles James Fox and Henry Brougham; he was MP for Thetford
(1802-06, 1807-18) Appleby (1820-26) and Downton (1831-32). He was convicted of libel in
1813.
Edward Ellice (1783-1863)
British merchant with the Hudson's Bay Company and Whig MP for Coventry (1818-26,
1830-63); he was a friend of Sir Francis Burdett and John Cam Hobhouse.
Charles Wood, first viscount Halifax (1800-1885)
The son of Sir Francis Lindley Wood, baronet; educated at Eton and Oriel College, Oxford;
he was a Whig MP for Great Grimsby (1826-31), Warcham (1831-32), Halifax (1832-65) and
Ripon (1865-66). He was private secretary to Earl Gray and Secretary of state for India
(1858).
