The Creevey Papers
Earl of Sefton to Thomas Creevey, 13 April 1827
“London, April 13, 1827.
“They all declare their motive for resigning is
strictly personal—that the Catholics have nothing to do with it; it never
came into question. The D. of Wellington,
who has also given up the Army, says nothing
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| 1827.] | MISCHIEVOUS TIMES. | 113 |
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shall induce him to connect
himself with that man. He has just told this to Ly.
Jersey, and has shown her letters—one from Canning to him, announcing that he had
received his Majesty’s commands to form a Government. This he answered to
the King. He says
Canning’s letter was most impertinent. . . .
Peel says he could not serve under
Canning, nor would any of the others. . . . Lord Londonderry has resigned the Bedchamber in a
letter to the King saying he had prevented the Queen being received at Vienna,
and that as H.M. had given his confidence to a man who entertained such
different opinions on that subject, he could no longer
serve him. In short, traits of humour are without end. Bathurst did not know of the Chancellor’s, Wellington’s and
Peel’s resignation till he missed them at the
Cabinet dinner at Wynne’s on Wednesday. He went home
and wrote a very formal letter of resignation to Canning.
. . . If Opposition support, Canning may stand, and they
certainly ought to keep out these villains.”
Henry Bathurst, third earl Bathurst (1762-1834)
Tory statesman, the son of the second earl (d. 1794); he was master of the mint (1804),
president of the Board of Trade (1807-12), and secretary of state for war (1812-24).
George Canning (1770-1827)
Tory statesman; he was foreign minister (1807-1809) and prime minister (1827); a
supporter of Greek independence and Catholic emancipation.
Sir Henry Digby (1770-1842)
The son of William Digby; he was a naval captain who fought at Trafalgar.
Lady Jane Elizabeth Digby [née Coke] (d. 1863)
The daughter of Thomas William Coke, first Earl of Leicester; in 1796 she married Charles
Nevinson Howard, son of the Earl of Suffolk; after his death she married in 1806 Admiral
Sir Henry Digby.
John Howard, fifteenth earl of Suffolk (1739-1820)
Military officer who served under Cornwallis in the American War of Independence; he
succeeded a cousin in the title in 1783 and was colonel of the 70th Regiment of Foot
John Scott, first earl of Eldon (1751-1838)
Lord chancellor (1801-27); he was legal counsel to the Prince of Wales and an active
opponent of the Reform Bill.
Charles William Vane, third marquess of Londonderry (1778-1854)
Originally Stewart; he was the half-brother of Lord Castlereagh, and served under Sir
John Moore and the Duke of Wellington, fighting at Talavera; was minister to Prussia (1813)
and ambassador at the Congress of Vienna (1814) and held a variety of diplomatic and court
positions.
