Letter from Eleanor Isabella Franklin to her father Sir John Franklin, written to go on the North Star, which had been sent to link up with other vessels in the search expeditions Apology for starting letter on a Sunday, but it seems like a sacred duty. Looking at his portraits, including the one by Phillips, brings her back to prayer for God to bring him back safely or, if not, give them strength to accept God's will; as a Christian she takes comfort from God's love. The only family news relates to the return of John Philip Gell to England, in spite of entreaties from the Bishop for him to stay in Van Diemen's Land [now Tasmania]. Lady Franklin has been actively stirring people up to undertake search for him, with reward of £20,000 being offered to any party able to find him; she herself went to visit Sir Francis Baring to get the Admiralty to send searchers out, but they decline to do so on grounds of risk to life; public prayers said for him throughout the country in March. Assorted family news. They have not toured since she last wrote, but been to Somerset and Tunbridge Wells. Painful to marry in his absence, but feels he would not want them to delay longer; it is a great joy to her to know that he loves John and that John respects and loves him back; John's preaching is better than it was; she is learning the duties of a clergyman and has visited the poor of the district; she is better in health and thinner than wehn he left, with John being older and stouter, but more commanding in appearance; mother was lame in the summer due to problem with knee, but is better. False rumour heard about him a week ago. Reports encountering a clairvoyante who claims to have seen him, Sir James Ross and Sir John Rochardson, but not Crozier; it cheered them up, but no-one was informed. 6-7 May 1849