The Creevey Papers
Thomas Creevey to Elizabeth Ord, 19 November 1833
“19th.
“Amongst the many instances one has known of London
gossip, jaw and gullibility, my Irish fame is ![]()
| 1833.] | LORD HOLLAND’S ABILITY. | 267 |
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no bad specimen. When I went to
Whitehall on Saturday, poor Mrs. Taylor
began:—‘And so, Mr.
Creevey, there is no living in the Castle at Dublin without
you; so, I assure you, General Ellice writes to every
one.’—When I saw Sefton
the same night he said:—‘Grey has a letter from Wellesley* in which he says you are the most
agreeable fellow he has seen for ages, and that your visit to them has been
most valuable.’—Col. Shaw, a belonging
of Wellesley’s in India of 30 years’ standing,
whom I saw for the first time in Dublin, writes word that
‘Mr. Creevey by agreeableness has greatly
contributed to Ld. Wellesley’s happiness, and
to his years!’ . . . A note from
Lady Grey yesterday
says:—‘Pray, pray! dear Mr.
Creevey, dine here on Friday.’ In the course of
the morning Esterhazy came after me to dine
with him yesterday, and Kempt has been
here this morning to invite me for Thursday. Sefton had a
letter from Brougham and Vaux from
Brighton, begging him to secure Creevey for dinner
to-day.”
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.
Sir James Kempt (1764 c.-1854)
He was aide-de-camp to Sir Ralph Abercromby and fought under Picton in the Peninsular
War; he was a brigade-commander at Waterloo, and governor-general of Canada
(1828-30).
Paul Anton III, Prince Esterházy (1786-1866)
Hungarian diplomat who after the Congress of Vienna was appointed as ambassador to the
United Kingdom (1815-42); he was foreign minister (1848).
Frances Ann Taylor [née Vane] (d. 1835)
Whig hostess, the daughter of Sir Henry Vane, first baronet (1729–1794); in 1789 she
married the politician Michael Angelo Taylor.
Richard Wellesley, first marquess Wellesley (1760-1842)
The son of Garret Wesley (1735-1781) and elder brother of the Duke of Wellington; he was
Whig MP, Governor-general of Bengal (1797-1805), Foreign Secretary (1809-12), and
Lord-lieutenant of Ireland (1821-28); he was created Marquess Wellesley in 1799.
