t about, it must be made
manifest that there is no other alternative, for there is always
a considerable amount of party violence and selfish interest
which reluctantly sacrifice themselves, no matter how desperate
the position they hold or how great the good which may ensue.
Though the adherents of Government put on as bold a front as they
can, there is a very considerable impression that the days of the
Whig Cabinet are numbered; however, I don't think they will go
just yet.

February 20th, 1838 {p.063}

[Page Head: MR. CREEVEY'S PAPERS.]

I made no allusion to the death of Creevey at the time it took
place, about a fortnight ago, having said something about him
elsewhere. Since that period he had got into a more settled way
of life. He was appointed to one of the Ordnance offices by Lord
Grey, and subsequently by Lord Melbourne to the Treasurer ship of
Greenwich Hospital, with a salary of L600 a year and a house. As
he died very suddenly, and none of his connexions were at hand,
Lord Sefton sent to his lodgings and (in conjunction with Vizard,
the solicitor) caused all his papers to be sealed up. It was
found that he had left a woman who had lived with him for four
years as his mistress, his sole executrix and residuary legatee,
and she accordingly became entitled to all his personalty (the
value of which was very small, not more than L300 or L400) and to
all the papers which he left behind him. These last are
exceedingly valuable, for he had kept a copious diary for thirty-
six years, had preserved all his own and Mrs. Creevey's letters,
and copies or originals of a vast miscellaneous correspondence.
The only person who is acquainted with the contents of these
papers is his daughter-in-law, whom he had frequently employed to
copy papers for him, and she knows how much there is of delicate
and interesting matter, the publication of which would be painful
and embarrassing to many people now alive, and make very
inconvenient and premature revelations upon private and
confidential matters.... Then there is Creevey's own
correspondence with various people, especially with Brougham,
which evidently contains things Brougham is anxious to suppress,
for he has taken pains to prevent the papers from falling into
the hands of any person likely to publish them, and has urged
Vizard to get possession of them either by persuasion, or
purchase, or both. In point of fact they are now in Vizard's
hands, and it is intended b