The Creevey Papers
Thomas Creevey to Elizabeth Ord, 26 March 1828
“Brooks’s, March 26th.
“We have an event in our
family. Fergy has got a regiment—a
tip-top crack one—one of those beautiful Highland regiments that were at
Brussels, Quatre-Bras
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| 1827-28.] | LORD HILL PUTS DOWN HIS FOOT. | 157 |
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and Waterloo. But his
manner of getting it is still more flattering to him and honorable to Lord Hill, backed, no doubt, as he must have been
by the Beau. It has been the subject of a
battle of ten days’ duration between the King and Lord Hill. The former proposed
Lord Glenlyon, the Duke of Athol’s second son, married to the
Duke of
Northumberland’s sister, who has been in the King’s Household, and, as the
King said, had his promise of this regiment (the 79th).
On the other hand, the King has been known to say over and over again that
Ferguson never should have a regiment in his lifetime—for various offences. He voted and
spoke against the Duke of York; he went to
Queen Caroline’s in regimentals; he moved for the Milan Commission,
seconded by Mr. Creevey in a most
indecent, intemperate speech, and was voted against by Tierney and all the Whigs as being much too
bad; and yet little Hill has carried him thro’. . .
. It is understood Lord Hill signified his intention of
resigning if his recommendation was not acceded to. . . . I feel quite certain
that Lady Conyngham’s sneers and Sir Henry
Hardinge’s fears were all connected with this then pending
battle.”
Queen Caroline of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel (1768-1821)
Married the Prince of Wales in 1795 and separated in 1796; her husband instituted
unsuccessful divorce proceedings in 1820 when she refused to surrender her rights as
queen.
Thomas Creevey (1768-1838)
Whig politician aligned with Charles James Fox and Henry Brougham; he was MP for Thetford
(1802-06, 1807-18) Appleby (1820-26) and Downton (1831-32). He was convicted of libel in
1813.
Sir Ronald Craufurd Ferguson (1773-1841)
Scottish officer who served in India and fought with a Highland brigade; he was MP for
Dysart (1806-30) and Nottingham (1830-41).
Frederick Augustus, Duke of York (1763-1827)
He was commander-in-chief of the Army, 1798-1809, until his removal on account of the
scandal involving his mistress Mary Anne Clarke.
Henry Hardinge, first viscount Hardinge (1785-1856)
After a distinguished career in the Napoleonic wars (in which he lost his left hand) he
served as Tory MP for Durham (1820-30), Newport (1830-34), and Launceston (1834-44); he was
secretary-at-war (1838-30) and governor-general of India (1844-48).
Lady Emily Frances Murray [née Percy] (1789-1844)
The daughter of Hugh Percy, second duke of Northumberland; in 1810 she married Sir James
Murray, first Baron Glenlyon; she was lady of the bedchamber to Princess Charlotte.
Sir James Murray, first baron Glenlyon (1782-1837)
The son of Sir John Murray, fourth Duke of Atholl; he was a military officer, MP for
Perthshire (1807-12), and Lord of the Bedchamber (1812-32), raised to the peerage in
1821.
John Murray, fourth duke of Atholl (1755-1830)
Son of the third duke (d. 1774); he was a Scottish representative peer (1780-86),
Governor-in-Chief of the Isle of Man (1793), and Lord-Lieutenant of Perthshire
(1794-1830).
Hugh Percy, third duke of Northumberland (1785-1847)
The son of the second duke (d. 1817), he was educated at Eton and St John's College,
Cambridge, and before succeeding to the title was a Tory MP for Buckingham (1806),
Westminster (1806), Launceston (1806-07), and Northumberland (1807-12). He was
lord-lieutenant of Ireland (1829-30).
George Tierney (1761-1830)
Whig MP and opposition leader whose political pragmatism made him suspect in the eyes of
his party; he fought a bloodless duel with Pitt in 1798. He is the “Friend of Humanity” in
Canning and Frere's “The Needy Knife-Grinder.”
