The Creevey Papers
Thomas Creevey to Elizabeth Ord, 29 May 1834
“Brooks’s, May 29th (King Charles’s Restoration
and Minister Charles’s aussi).
“I dined yesterday at Stanley’s, with Johnny
Russell by his side, and it was all very well. . . . All the
offices were to be filled to-day. Think of young
Cole* Secretary of State for the Colonies!
Abercromby vice Stanley! Oh dear, oh dear! . . . I
continue to dine out daily according to custom. We had a great day on Sunday at
‘dear Eddard’s,’ with
our Chancellor in the character of lover to
Mrs. Petre, tho’ Lady
Grey tells me this lover is dead-beat by Palmerston. Was there ever? I dine with Fergy
to-day to meet the Cokes and
Abercromby, but not as Secretary of State for the
Colonies, for all is settled, and no mention of young
Cole. Auckland first Lord of the
Admiralty!!! Was there ever? Spring Rice
the Colonies! Ld. Carlisle Privy Seal;
Mulgrave, it is probable, the Post
Office, Ellice in the Cabinet with his
present office. I am very glad of this last arrangement, because he is the most
courageous bottle-holder Lord Grey could have. I dine
to-morrow
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| 1834.] | COMPETITION. FOR OFFICE. | 277 |
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at Sefton’s with Brougham only; next
day at Praise-God Barebones
Fitzwilliam’s.”
James Abercromby, first baron Dunfermline (1776-1858)
The son of Lt.-Gen Sir Ralph Abercromby; he was MP for Midhurst (1807), Calne (1812-30)
and Edinburgh (1832), judge-advocate general (1827) and speaker of the House of Commons
(1835-39); he was raised to the peerage in 1839.
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).
George Eden, earl of Auckland (1784-1849)
The second son of William Eden, first Baron Auckland (d. 1814); educated at Eton, Christ
Church, Oxford, and Lincoln's Inn, he courted Annabella Milbanke and was MP for New
Woodstock. He was governor-general of India (1836-42).
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.
Constantine Henry Phipps, first marquess of Normanby (1797-1863)
The son of Henry Phipps, first earl of Mulgrave; educated at Harrow and Trinity College,
Cambridge, he was a Whig MP, governor of Jamaica (1832-34), lord privy seal (1834),
lord-lieutenant of Ireland (1835), and ambassador at Paris (1846-52).
Thomas Spring Rice, first Baron Monteagle (1790-1866)
The son of Stephen Edward of Limerick; he was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge and
was MP for Limerick City (1820-32) and Cambridge borough (1832-39). He was chancellor of
the exchequer (1835-39) and contributed to the
Edinburgh
Review.
John Russell, first earl Russell (1792-1878)
English statesman, son of John Russell sixth duke of Bedford (1766-1839); he was author
of
Essay on the English Constitution (1821) and
Memoirs of the Affairs of Europe (1824) and was Prime Minister (1865-66).
Edward Stanley, first Baron Monteagle (1460 c.-1523)
The son of Thomas Stanley, first earl of Derby; fighting under Thomas Howard, earl of
Surrey, he was instrumental in the English victory at Flodden Field.
Henry John Temple, third viscount Palmerston (1784-1865)
After education at Harrow and Edinburgh University he was MP for Newport (1807-11) and
Cambridge University (1811-31), foreign minister (1830-41), and prime minister (1855-58,
1859-65).
