The Creevey Papers
Thomas Creevey to Elizabeth Ord, 14 March 1833
“March 14.
“There has been most stormy work in the Cabinet for
some time, and it has been with the greatest difficulty Grey and Althorp have
submitted to Stanley’s obstinacy
about Irish tithes. The more violent Lambton I dare say would not submit, and he retires with an
earldom, to cure his headaches, of course. What pretty physic! How delighted
his colleagues must be that he is gone, for there never was such a
disagreeable, overbearing devil to bear with in a Cabinet. . . .”
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).
John Charles Spencer, third earl Spencer (1782-1845)
English politician, son of the second earl (d. 1834); educated at Harrow and Trinity
College, Cambridge, he was Whig MP for Northamptonshire (1806-34) and chancellor of the
exchequer and leader of the lower house under Lord Grey (1830).
