The Creevey Papers
Thomas Creevey to Elizabeth Ord, 28 May 1836
“28th.
“. . . Yesterday I dined at Holland House with my
old and tried friend the Speaker, and
Marianne [Hon. Mrs.
Abercromby] into the bargain. Such a fright I never in my life
beheld, in a dress far surpassing any female crossing-sweeper on May Day. I
arrived just as they had sat down to dinner, with as little room to turn myself
in as ever fell to any man’s lot, and yet I was called to both by
Lord and Lady
Holland to leave room for a very distinguished American
gentleman who was expected; but I would not hear of such a thing, and this led
to a good deal of fun. The party consisted, besides the
Abercrombys, of Bob
Adair, Lord de Ros, the
Attorney General and his wife, the peeress Scarlett’s eldest daughter (I forget her title).* I found
her a very nice agreeable companion, apparently very amiable, and not the least
set up with either her father’s peerage or her own. Dr. Lushington and Fonblanque, a son of old Fonblanque, and writer of one of the cleverest Sunday papers,
were the others. I took to Fonblanque much. The
distinguished American arrived a quarter after eight, the dinner hour having
been half-past six; but he brought his card of invitation with him to shew he
was right. . . .”
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.
Sir Robert Adair (1763-1855)
English diplomat; he was Whig MP for Appleby (1799-1802) and Camelford (1802-12), a
friend and disciple of Charles James Fox, and ambassador to Constantinople, 1809-10. He was
ridiculed by Canning and Ellis in
The Rovers.
John Campbell, first baron Campbell (1779-1861)
Barrister and biographer; he was a liberal MP for Stafford (1830-32), Dudley (1832-34),
and Edinburgh (1834-41); created Baron Campbell (1841), lord chancellor (1859).
Albany William Fonblanque (1793-1872)
Radical journalist, son of John de Grenier Fonblanque; he contributed to the
Westminster Review and was from 1826 a writer for, and afterwards
editor and owner of
The Examiner.
John de Grenier Fonblanque (1759-1837)
English barrister educated at Harrow and St John's College, Oxford; he was a member of
the Whig Club, friend of the Prince of Wales, and MP for Camelford (1802-06).
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.
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.
Stephen Lushington (1782-1873)
Barrister, judge, and Whig MP; educated at Eton and at Christ Church, Oxford, he advised
Lady Byron on a separation from Lord Byron in 1816.
