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| Archive Reference / Library Class No. | D8760/F/FEG/1/34/8 |
| Former Reference | D3287/31/11 |
| Title | 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 |
| Date | 28 Oct 1854 |
| Description | 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. |
| Extent | 1 sheet |
| Level | Item |
| Repository | Derbyshire Record Office |
| Full Catalogue List | Click here to view a full list for this collection |
| Sender | Mary Anne Kendall |
| Sender Location | Royal Naval College |
| Recipient | Eleanor Isabella Gell |
| Recipient Location | No address |
| Archive Creator | Eleanor Isabella Franklin, later Eleanor Gell (1824-1860) |
| Gell family of Hopton Hall, Wirksworth |
| Format | Document |
| Copies | A digital copy of this item can be viewed on the public computers at the record office. |
| Term | Crimean War |
| Franklin Expedition (1845) |