The Creevey Papers
Thomas Creevey to Elizabeth Ord, 21 February 1832
“21st.
“We had a great go of it last night: 53 boroughs
fell in succession without a fight. But there is still great division in the
Cabinet about making peers, altho’ Lord
Grey has now the King’s permission under his own hand in
writing to use his own discretion in making whatever addition to the
Peerage he thinks necessary. Brougham’s illness seemed to affect his vigor of mind,
and made him rather on the jib on this subject; but now he is himself again,
and quite as vigorous as ever in his demand for new peers.
Grey, Goderich,
Holland and Lambton are on the same side, but there is a regular murrain in
all the rest of the squad. . . . King Billy hates the peer-making, but as a point of honor to his
ministers he gives them unlimited power.”
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).
Henry Richard Fox, third baron Holland (1773-1840)
Whig politician and literary patron; Holland House was for many years the meeting place
for reform-minded politicians and writers. He also published translations from the Spanish
and Italian;
Memoirs of the Whig Party was published in 1852.
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).
Frederick John Robinson, first earl of Ripon (1782-1859)
Educated at Harrow and St. John's College, Cambridge, he was a Tory MP for Carlow
(1806-07) and Ripon (1807-27), Chancellor of the Exchequer (1823-27), and prime minister
(1827-28) in succession to Canning.
