| Recipient Location | At the Rev B Wright's Bollingbroke [Horncastle, Lincolnshire crossed out] |
| Transcript or Index | March 8 1824
My Dearest Love,
I fear you have left your business in hands more willing than able to attend to it, for I have been sadly languid since you left me, <or would have written in readiness last night> and believe, as you feared at the time, that I rather overexerted myself on Monday and Tuesday. I must therefore instead of sending you such a letter as I could wish, about many points of minor interest, confine myself to what it is absolutely necessary to communicate. The enclosed letter I believe is one of those you expected. Mr Millington is dangerously ill, but will take care that Captain Beechey is proposed. Mr Hunter called last night, with an invitation from the Duke of Sussex to dine with him tomorrow, and I know not whether you will or will not regret the impossibility which excuses you from obliging a royal order. I told Mr Hunter you would be at least a fortnight away. I understand the party was invited to meet you. Mr Bond was with me this morning, indeed has delayed my writing. We have talked over several matters pretty satisfactorily and settled about the Insurance. I believe it will also be necessary to insure Berners Street but this he could not say without looking to Mr Guichard’s Lease. I had a letter from Ferdinand this morning, complaining somewhat strongly, and I think now not without reason, of Mr Bedford’s delay in selecting the Books, after the principle of selection has been agreed to. Mr Bonds also seem to feel much aggrieved by the litter in which it keeps their Drawing rooms, albeit litter is no novelty there! I have got Giblett’s bill which is £343 – some parts of it I am not overwell pleased with, and some I shall certainly object to, where the charge is above what he asked. I have also got Tyars’s. My sister I shall see tomorrow, and Miss Griffins have volunteered to drive me to Greenwich at any time if I decide on venturing. I believe I have engaged a Nurse, & as Dr Thomson told her the 1st week in June at farthest, I think it is high time. I have written to Mrs Beaufort. Mr South & Sir A. Johnstone have called, and Capt’n Parry’s dance is postponed to the 4th of May, I have also written to thank the American reading room, and in fact believe I have omitted nothing.
I had not time to ask you about mourning as I ought to have done, but supposed I could not be wrong in getting a black gown for each of the maids, & shall send John about a suit for himself. Farther I shall not proceed till your return or till you give me orders, as your wishes will probably be in some degree regulated by what your family do, and I have known so much ill blood arrive from one Member’s chusing [sic] to do too much or too little in such a case, that though I am sure there would be no danger of such feelings in this instance, I would rather act upon sure grounds. There is also one point which I feel it delicate to ask at this moment, but which I should like to have answered when you return, as I must act accordingly, namely whether it is intended to wear black the whole old fashioned twelve month (which you among others quarrelled with me for (?) affiching up for last year) or the more modern term of six months. I have found it impossible to get my letter finished in time to catch Captn Parry for a frank, without a degree of hurry which I thought would do me more harm than copying Mr McDonald’s short Epistle, so have written the last part more at leisure.
I am not unmindful of what is perhaps passing at this moment and should go on in a very different tone if I had either time or leisure, or indeed strength, for I feel quite exhausted. I hope you will be able to tell me that you have all been well supported through this trying day, and though all must suffer from the effects of feelings which we cannot and ought not to be able wholly to silence, I do truly believe that if there be a family to which death has no terrors, and sorrow would come without its sting, it is yours. My best love to each and all, and pray assure them that it is no want of interest and sympathy in their feelings which prevents me from writing. My sister and Mr Kay begged also that I would express their sincere regret. I shall endeavour to write a few lines to Mary Booth this Evening if I am well enough, but shall not write to you again till Saturday unless something material occurs to communicate,
ever your affectionate wife
Eleanor Anne Franklin
(I have had no more sheets & pray say how your cold is.)
Glasgow, 5th March.
Sir,
Yours of the 29th inst. I duly received and thank you kindly for your offer and in reply have to acknowledge my excepting it, altho the wages is far below what I anticipated, having had a much larger salary with the HB Coy who had no fault to find with me, except that I could not keep Accts. In regard to the duty you have laid down which you expect me to perform, I have only to state that you will find me capable of in every respect, McKinzies River I am acquainted with, having both summered and wintered there.
I flatter myself that my conduct throughout the journey will meet your approbation, and shall leave any advance in Salary to your own generosity, if you are in want of a few good boatmen I can procure you some able hands here. I have been attending the French school since I came home, which will also be of se[rvice] to me, should you have any Canadians in the Expedition.
Before I leave this, I will require a little money in advance which I hope you will have no objections to let me have.
Waiting your further instructions I am etc etc.
Neil McDonald.
PS. Please address to me as formerly at Mr McFarlanes
13 & 14 Wilson Street
Mr McFarlane desires to be kindly remembered to you, & wishes you as good a train of dogs when you pass his old Post, Green Lake, on this journey as you got on your last, & hopes you will once more return safe to Old Caledonia and spend with pleasure the fruits of your hard and hazardous undertaking.
[written in pencil] On the death of his Father 1824
[Addressed to]
Captain Franklin, R.N.
At the Revd. T B Wrights
Bolingbroke
[crossed out Horncastle, Lincolnshire] |