Letter from Mary Anne Kendall to her cousin Eleanor Isabella Gell, on confirmation of news of the fate of Franklin's expeditions by Dr John Rae Scarcely knows what to write but does not want to be silent about confirmation of their “worst fears”; Sir J. Richardson takes comfort in the fact that Eleanor’s father died early on, “before the ships were deserted”; could not bring herself to write to Eleanor for a few days after hearing of Dr Rae returning; acknowledges that it is not a “new sorrow”, but reading each line creates a “new pang – and I dare not trust myself to dwell upon it”; glad to hear that Eleanor is well and has been able to “nurse your baby”; arrangements for forwarding post; kind of Mr Gell to write to her; hopes Eleanor will enjoy the “change of locality”; no particular news about the writer’s family; enjoyed trip to the West Country so much that it felt like no-one could have any “trial or sorrow soon”; mistrusts earthly enjoyments; no sooner had they come back than heard of Mr Booth’s sudden death and Mr Richard Martyn’s death, both on the same day; new sorrows every day; afraid that do not know the “worst, by a great deal, in the course of this horrible war”; love from Mary; kisses to “your pets”; “kindest remembrances” to Eleanor’s husband . Paper black-edged. 28 Oct 1854