| Description | Pleasure at his return to England. Departing from his practice of writing circular letter of general information. His movements waiting on interviews with Lord Bathurst and the Admiralty, otherwise he would be setting off for Lincolnshire immediately, with suggestions of possible arrangements, when he does travel, to meet him at Keal or Horncastle. Preparation for publication of a book will necessitate his being in London to consult scientific colleagues and visit libraries, with the writing of the book being regarded by him as almost as arduous as his travels, to be done only out of a sense of duty to the public. Anxious to hear news of family members, including Willingham, Mary (now almost a young lady), the daughter of [their brother] James in Hannah's charge, and uncle Augustus, possibly an emigrant. Glad to hear good news of Tom's advance at Westminster, possibly now at Oxford [Hannah's son Thomas Willingham Booth]. His wish to travel from London via Nottingham to see Willingham's family. |
| Recipient Location | Ingoldmells, Spilsby, Lincolnshire |
| Transcript or Index | Stromness, October 10th 1822.
My dear Sister
I am sure every member of my family will participate with me in the pleasure I feel of having once more reached the shores of Great Britain and therefore I depart from my recent practice of writing a circular letter containing the general information respecting my proceedings and address a letter to each of the branches. This proceeding I am aware is particularly necessary with you who live out of the line of direct communication and only receive a weekly budget of news.
Having sent in the packet which contained my official report of our proceedings up to the month of January last, a letter to Willingham, which was intended to convey some intelligence respecting the material points of our passage I presume you are informed by this time either by that means or the public papers of most of the events and shall therefore abstain now from entering on those subjects, and defer the more enlarged communication until we have the happiness of meeting – which I hope will be before this month closes. My movements however must depend on the pleasure of the Heads of the Offices with whom I am connected. If I was to follow the impulse of my inclination and put in force my present desire I should set off for Lincolnshire almost immediately on my arrival in London. Having laid papers before the Board; given them time to read them and make such determinations as they judge fit with respect to the publication, and during the interim I could pay a hasty visit to my family, I shall be able to speak more decidedly on this point after my first interview with Lord Bathurst, and the Admiralty, as I intend to ask their permission to close, if it appeared practicable, but my family will be aware that my first visit to them must be hasty under that arrangement, therefore I should wish they would concentrate as much possible. The jaunt to Ingoldmells would occupy the latter part of two days in travelling and to obviate this I should wish yourself & family would meet either at Keal or Horncastle. I presume neither Mr Booth or yourself will have any objection to this arrangement and I shall take care to give you due notice of my movements so as to be at either place by the time of my arrival. Exclusive of my anxious desire I have to see my father and sister and their families at once another reason for going into Lincolnshire early is that I shall in all probability have to apply very closely in preparing the narrative for publication and that must be done in London where I can have the opportunity of consulting my scientific friends on the different points, and be near good libraries to which I can refer.
You may easily believe I do not look upon the task of preparing a book for the press with any complacency and nothing but an imperious sense of duty to the public would induce me to undertake the labour. I would almost prefer performing the voyage again painful and arduous as it has been… but if I receive direction to do it I shall endeavour to execute it cheerfully. Willingham’s absence I shall greatly feel in this, as well as many other points but I cannot regret his acceptance of the office which is in every way lucrative and honourable. Surely my dear sister the members of our family ought to promise the Almighty Disposer of events for the manifold blessings he has bestowed upon us collectively & individually and I am sure you feel this obligation with all to due force and daily offer the unfeigned tribute of gratitude to his throne. I regretted my last packet did not contain any letter from you, for I am particularly anxious to hear of Mary and your young charge, the daughter of James, of whose arrival in England Willingham has informed me. I may perhaps find Mary at school near London and I have the opportunity of seeing her if uncle Henry Booth has the entrée into the house where she resides. I expect to see her quite a big girl if the expression may be allowed in speaking of one so nearly approaching to the state of womanhood, and shall be truly happy to learn of her having advanced well in the necessary and useful accomplishments of a young Lady. Equally glad shall I be to welcome other relative your charge, her situation is calculated to excite the warmest sympathy and will I am sure receive the kindest attention from each of us. I may give an account of them both as well as yourself and Mr Booth when you write, which I w[ish] you to do on the receipt of this, addressing to my Agents 3 Cliffords Inn London. Where is my Uncle Augustus, has his body yet wandered to Corfu, the Cape of Good Hope or New South Wales where his ideas and mania for emigration have often led him. You will of course let him know of my arrival and present to him my kindest remembrance. If he is still a resident with you, desire him to muster a budget of news and transmit it to me by letter; an intelligent person like him to whom every house is open, must be well qualified to give all the chit chat of the neighbourhood to one who has been such a perfect alien as myself.
I had almost forgotten to mention that I have named a river Booth after your husband; a similar mark of recognition has been given to each of our Brothers. Betsey & myself are the only two of the Family omitted. I could not use a female’s name for fear of bespeaking love, nor Franklin [?of vanity]. The account you gave me of Tom’s advance at Westminster was very gratifying. I suppose he is now either at Oxford or about to remove thither, if he happens to be London I shall make a point of seeing him early. I anticipate very great happiness in meeting my numerous nephews & neices [sic], they are of all sizes so that I can have quite a gradation in my amusement. I have land in Yorkhire (which will depend on the [?] wards). I shall be anxious to take Nottingham in on my way to London to see Willingham’s family, even at the expense of some miles, for it will save me a trip down which my brother and his wife have requested to me to make but independent of this expression of their desire, I should have gone inclined by the regard I entertain for their excellent grandmother Mrs Burnside. Colnl. Elliot is also a favourite of mine but he swears to another to be always an agreeable companion. My paper bids me to include us.
Write by return of post to say whether you accede to my proposal of meeting me at Keal or Horncastle
Believe me, my dear sister, yours affectionately, John Franklin
To Mrs Booth, Ingoldmells, Spilsby, Lincolnshire
Stromness Oct 10th 1822 |