The Creevey Papers
Thomas Creevey to Elizabeth Ord, 31 January 1831
“The Tower, Jan. 31st, 1831.
“. . . I dined in Downing Street with Lady Grey . . . After dinner the private secretary
to the Prime
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| 216 | THE CREEVEY PAPERS | [Ch. IX. |
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Minister and myself being alone, I ascertained that,
altho’ Lord Grey was gone to Brighton
ostensibly to prick for Sheriffs for the year, his great object was to lay his
plan of reform before the King, previous (if he
approves) to its being proposed to the House of Commons. A ticklish operation,
this! to propose to a Sovereign a plan for reducing his own power and
patronage. However, there is the plan all cut and dry, and the Cabinet
unanimous upon the subject. . . . Billy has
been in perfect ecstacies with his Government ever since they arrested
O’Connell. Wood says if the King gives his Government his
real support upon this Reform question, without the slightest appearance of a
jib, Grey is determined to fight it out to a dissolution
of Parliament, if his plan is beat in the Commons. My eye, what a
crisis!”
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).
Daniel O'Connell (1775-1847)
Irish politician, in 1823 he founded the Catholic Association to press for Catholic
emancipation.
Charles Wood, first viscount Halifax (1800-1885)
The son of Sir Francis Lindley Wood, baronet; educated at Eton and Oriel College, Oxford;
he was a Whig MP for Great Grimsby (1826-31), Warcham (1831-32), Halifax (1832-65) and
Ripon (1865-66). He was private secretary to Earl Gray and Secretary of state for India
(1858).
