The Creevey Papers
Thomas Creevey to Elizabeth Ord, 6 September 1836
“Stoke Farm, Sept. 6th.
“I came here on Friday; visitors—Charles Greville, Lords Charleville and Allen, Standish, Townley, Rogers and C. Grenfell.
Townley still dumb!† Was there ever? . . .
Sefton asked me if I
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had heard of ——, I mean, his cheating at cards, and upon my
saying yes, he said it was all quite true, and that his practice had been so
long known to his friends that they had remonstrated
against his pursuing such a course, for fear of detection; but poor, dear,
insinuating —— could not resist, and it has fallen to the lot of
George Payne to detect him
publickly. The club is to be dissolved in order to get rid of him.
—— is gone abroad, and Sefton has a letter
from him—the most amusing, wittiest letter about all he has seen! . .
.”
Joshua William Allen, sixth viscount Allen (1782 c.-1845)
The son of the fifth viscount (d. 1816); educated at Christ Church, Oxford, he served
under Wellington in the Peninsular War. Thomas Creevey described him as “a penniless lord
and Irish pensioner, well behaved and not encumbered with too much principle.”
Charles William Bury, second earl of Charleville (1801-1851)
The son of the first earl (d. 1835); educated at Eton, he was a Tory MP for Carlow
(1826-32) and Penryn (1832-35), and was an Irish representative peer. Thomas Creevey called
him “the greatest bore the world can produce.”
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).
Charles Pascoe Grenfell (1790-1867)
The son of Pascoe Grenfell and Charlotte Granville; educated at Harrow and Christ Church,
Oxford, he was a copper magnate and MP for Preston (1847-52, 1857-65).
Charles Cavendish Fulke Greville (1794-1865)
The son of Captain Charles Greville (1762-1832); he was educated at Eton College and at
Christ Church, Oxford, and was clerk-in-ordinary to the privy council. His famous
Diary began appearing in 1874.
George Payne (1803-1878)
Of Sulby Hall, Northamptonshire, son of George Payne; educated at Eton and Christ Church,
Oxford, he was a noted sportsman and owner of racehorses who made and lost several
fortunes.
Samuel Rogers (1763-1855)
English poet, banker, and aesthete, author of the ever-popular
Pleasures of Memory (1792),
Columbus (1810),
Jaqueline (1814), and
Italy (1822-28).
Charles Towneley (1803-1876)
The son of Peregrine Towneley; he was Lord of Bowland (1846-76), MP for Sligo Borough
(1848-52), and High Sheriff of Lancashire (1857).
