The Creevey Papers
Earl of Sefton to Thomas Creevey, 14 December 1833
“Croxteth, Dec. 14th.
“. . . What you say about Ld. Grey’s change of tone towards Talleyrand is quite intelligible to me. I
trace it entirely to Lady Keith, who has
great influence over the whole Grey family, and is in
constant correspondence with them. She is in great habits of intimacy with the
D. of Orleans—has the ear
![]()
![]()
| 270 | THE CREEVEY PAPERS | [Ch. XI. |
![]()
of the Court, and hates Talleyrand.
Her object is to get him recalled, and to replace him by her husband [illegible].
She thinks making him and Ld. Grey ill together would
drive Talleyrand to resign. I can tell you, in
corroboration of this, that Monsr. de Bacourt told me that
nothing wd. contribute more to decide T. to return here
than Ld. Grey’s shewing a decided anxiety for it,
and at his suggestion I got G. to write a most kind and
pressing letter to T., representing the importance he
attached to his coming back, both with a view to keeping up the friendship
between the two countries, and to the settlement of the Dutch business. . . .
Ly. Jersey is now living in great
intimacy with Louis Philippe and the
D. of Orleans, so if these two* don’t do
mischief, it will not be for want of pains.”
Auguste Charles Joseph Flahault de la Billardrie (1785-1870)
The illegitimate son of Charles Talleyrand; after education in England and serving as
aide-de-camp to Napoleon he took refuge in England upon the restoration of the Bourbons. In
1817 he married Margaret Mercer Elphinstone.
Elizabeth Fox, Lady Holland [née Vassall] (1771 c.-1845)
In 1797 married Henry Richard Fox, Lord Holland, following her divorce from Sir Godfrey
Webster; as mistress of Holland House she became a pillar of Whig society.
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).
Louis Philippe, king of the French (1773-1850)
The son of Louis Philippe II, Duke of Orléans; he was King of France 1830-48; he
abdicated following the February Revolution of 1848 and fled to England.
