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June 9 1812: Creevey's Letter


On  June 9 1812, Thomas Creevey writes to his wife Eleanor Creevey about the new administration of Lord Liverpool. He notes that the key concession that allowed the new government to be formed was that Catholic Emancipation was not to be a government measure. Each member would be allowed to vote on the issue as he chose. Creevey adds that  a "rupture with America" would cause financial problems for Britain. An excerpt from Creevey's letter of June 9 1812 is reproduced below.
House of Commons, Tuesday, 9th.
. . . There has been a meeting of Government members at Lord Liverpool’s house to-day, and he has declared to them the intention of the Government not to oppose the Catholic question as a Government measure, but everybody is to do as he pleases. Of course the measure will now take place and it will be done by Liverpool, Eldon, &c. This convinces me more than ever of the great fault committed by Grey and Grenville in letting their negociations go off about the Household . . . but they are all at once so prodigiously constitutional, one almost suspects one’s own judgment. They are, at all events, dished for the present, and most lucky will they be to be so, if anything like a rupture with America is now determined upon by that country, because that event, I am positive, gives check-mate at once to the revenue of this country.

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