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Archive Reference / Library Class No.D8760/F/FEG/1/52/71
Former ReferenceD3287/31/11
TitleLetter from Eliza M. Peddie to Eleanor Isabella Gell, about the likely fate of the Franklin expedition, on which Mrs Peddie's husband had served
Date20 Feb [1852]
DescriptionThanks for her sympathetic letter; she agrees with Eleanor that none of the officers or men are alive now; her husband's last letter from Disco says that, although not in the Erebus, he often dined with Eleanor's father and that he was more like a father than a supreme Commanding Officer to those serving under him; she has lost a little girl aged 4 and a half [early in 1849]. Marked in pencil as from Mrs Peddie, widow of an officer on the Terror. Letter only dated 20 Feb, but "?1852" has been added in pencil. Paper black-edged.
Extent2 sheets
LevelItem
RepositoryDerbyshire Record Office
Full Catalogue ListClick here to view a full list for this collection
SenderEliza M. Peddie
Sender Location5 Dundas Terrace, Woolwich
RecipientEleanor Isabella Gell
Recipient LocationNo address
Archive CreatorEleanor Isabella Franklin, later Eleanor Gell (1824-1860)
Gell family of Hopton Hall, Wirksworth
FormatDocument
TermFranklin Expedition (1845)
Transcript or Index5 Dundas Terrace
Woolwich Feb 20th

Dear Madam, The receipt
of your very kind
letter afforded me
much pleasure and
was very soothing to
my feelings; I thank
you most sincerely
for the sympathy
you have expressed
and the same
towards you. This is
a painful and
mysterious dispensation
of Providence and
may the Almighty
give us all grace
to submit to His
holy Will submissively
and without murmuring
but how strange that
of all the Expeditions
that have been sent
to those inhospitable
Regions such a
calamity has not
overtaken any others
I quite agree with
you in thinking that
none of the Officers
+ men can be living; but
unless they were overwhelmed
by some sudden cala-
mity, they must
have undergone suffering
such as one cannot
contemplate without
a shudder, although
my dear husband
was not in the
Erebus, he saw
much of your
Revered parent
for he mentioned
in his last letter
from Disco that
he had often dined
with him and
that he was more
like a father than
a supreme Commanding
Officer to those who
were serving under
him, and that
he was consequently
mighty beloved by
them all. I have
no doubt but
the Officers of the
two ships mixed
much together
whenever the service
permitted. I think
with you that there
is very little chance
of any further intelligence
of the missing ships
next Autumn, and
suppose those that
are now out will
return, as soon
as possible. I intend
to put on mourning
at the period you
mention, and so do
the family connexions
of my late husband.
I did indeed
lose a dear child,
an only child, a very
interesting and intelligent
little girl, some four
years and a half
old, who was whilst
spared a great
comfort to me, and
most keenly did
I feel the loss. But
whilst we are in the
flesh we must ex-
pect to meet with
trials for this is not
our Rest, but let
us hope that they
may be sanctified
to our spiritual
good and may these
afflictions which are
for a moment work
out for us a far
more exceeding and
eternal weight of
glory. Once more
thanking you for
your kindness
Believe me
Dear Madam
Yours very truly
E.M. Peddie

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