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| Archive Reference / Library Class No. | D8760/F/FEG/1/1/11 |
| Former Reference | D3287/31/8 |
| Title | Letter from Sir John Franklin to his daughter Eleanor Isabella Franklin, during his travels in Tasmania |
| Date | 29 Feb 1840 |
| Description | Written on the way to Waterloo point, following an overnight stay at Mr. Cotton's house. Includes references to the houses of Mr Bretton and Mr Parsons, the latter having driven Mama when she was feeling unwell; arriving at Mr Cruttenden's at Prossers Place; Roper's Plains, a good place in which to cultivate grain, and the place called Paradise; walking for 3 miles along the stony river bed of the Prosser River; his arrival at Spring Bay at Captain McLaine's; their departure from Spring Bay having been delayed, because of the loss of his wife's bag ; travelling 28 miles through uninteresting bush and along a new road which he had directed to be built on his last visit and had been well done; description of Mr Cotton as a Quaker with a happy and cheerful family of 10 children. He ends the letter affectionately stating that they are going forward to Waterloo Point then probably over to the Schouterns, and they are well but fatigued by the journey. |
| Extent | 2 sheets |
| Level | Item |
| Repository | Derbyshire Record Office |
| Full Catalogue List | Click here to view a full list for this collection |
| Sender | John Franklin |
| Sender Location | At Mr Francis Cotton's [in Tasmania] |
| Recipient | Eleanor Isabella Franklin |
| Recipient Location | Government House, Hobart |
| Archive Creator | Eleanor Isabella Franklin, later Eleanor Gell (1824-1860) |
| Gell family of Hopton Hall, Wirksworth |
| Term | Colonialism |
| British Empire |
| Letters (documents) |
| Transcript or Index | At Mr Francis Cottons 29th February 1840
My dearest Eleanor, We are now about seven miles from Waterloo Point which place we are appointed to reach today. I find that Mr Cotton at whose House we passed the last night is going to Town this afternoon and the opportunity is this afforded me of letting you know what we have done. We spent the great part of the Tuesday at Mr Bretons having friend that our next days journey was only five miles. This was to the House of Mr Parsons, which is only in part finished and is small. This gentleman is a Settler who possesses a considerable quantity of land in different parts, and I have no doubt as he is an active energetic person that he manages his concerns profitably & well. He kindly undertook to drive your Mama in his Tandem on the following day as she was far from being well, and he has infrequently continued to do so, though no such vehicle has ever been brought over the roads we have travelled by, and it was thought impracticable to drive one. The roads have unquestionably been extremely rough and the most skilful driving was requisite. We got to Mr Cruttendons at Prospect Place by six on Wednesday, and there found a very comfortable & neatly arranged house, which must be attributed to its rational arrangements being under the directions of his sisters - elderly & single ladies, upon whom the whole of the Domestic Economy rests. Ropers Plains is a fine District for the growth of Grain. Wheat might be Cultivated to any extent. [?]Under the present state of the Roads it could not be brought to market, and the Settlers therefore limit themselves in a great degree to feeding sheep & cattle. There is no particular beauty in the scenery, except in one or two spots where a commanding view opens. All the rest presents the usual characters of the Bush. About four miles from Mr Cruttindens we came to a place named Paradise which is celebrated throughout the country for its extreme badness of road. We had to walk in fact for three miles over the rough stones which form the Bed of the Prosser River and is therefore perfectly impassable on horseback. The Settlers wish a Road to be made through this defile for such this passage between the Mountain Ranges may be called, but it would be an Herculean Task. The Gig and Horses were taken round over the Mountains, and they arrived at the Mouth of the River before we did. We pursued the journey afterwards to Spring Bay and arrived at Capt McLaines by ½ past six.
There we were met by the Schooner, but as Mr Parsons still offered to take your Mama to Waterloo Point. We did not embark but continued along the shore. Our departure from Spring Bay was delayed much later than we wished by the search for your Mama’s Bag which had unfortunately been lost the night before. Everyone was dispatched in search, & at length after much anxiety it was found to the infinite joy of your Mama, for it contained many things of great value to her and its loss would therefore have been irreparable.
Our journey of yesterday was 28 miles and we travelled in part through an uninteresting Bush and occasionally by the sea shore; at one place our way laid over a new Road which I had directed to be constructed on my last visit to avoid the Rocky Hills and I was glad to find the work had been so well done. Mr Cotton at whose house we now are is a Quaker, a great friend of the Mr [?] Backhouse. There are 10 children in [the] family. You can imagine therefore that out coming has put them out of the way. They yet are happy & cheerful and do not let us perceive they have been put to the least inconvenience.
Such my dearest Eleanor should be ever our [de]portment to be always cheerful a[nd] to confer favours with grace & good feeling. We are going forward to Waterloo Point today and if we finish near the Euathoea there we shall probably cross over to the Schauterns, but this will depend on circumstances. We are all well though a little fatigued by having to travel day after day & to keep time at certain places. I suppose Sophy & Tom will start on Monday. Remember us very kindly to Miss Williamson.
Believe me my dearest your most affectionate father John Franklin.
Mama sends love.
Addressed to: Mrs E I Franklin
Govt House
Hobart
John Franklin |