The Creevey Papers
Thomas Creevey to Elizabeth Ord, 12 December 1822
“Croxteth, Dec. 12.
“. . . The truth is that all the Whigs are either
fools or rogues enough to believe that our Monarch is really very fond of them, and that (according to the
angry Boy† who left us yesterday) if we, the Whigs. could but arrange our
matters between ourselves, the Sovereign would be happy to send for us. This is
all he is waiting for; and with reference to it, Lambton told Sefton in the strictest confidence that it is of vital importance
to gain Brougham s consent to Scarlett
![]()
![]()
| 1822.] | KNOWSLEY REVISITED. | 57 |
![]()
being Chancellor, and for
Brougham to take the office of Atty. Genl.! . . . You
may suppose the anxiety of the Earl’s mind till he found me for the
purpose of unburthening himself of this confidential communication; and having
done so, we indulged ourselves in a duet that might have been heard in the
remotest corner of the house. Is it not perfectly incredible?
Lambton was in constant communication with Grey whilst here, and (very judiciously!) shewed
Sefton some of his dispatches on this subject. . .
.”
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).
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).
James Scarlett, first baron Abinger (1769-1844)
English barrister and politician educated at Trinity College, Cambridge and the Inner
Temple; he was a Whig MP (1819-34) who served as attorney-general in the Canning and
Wellington ministries.
