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Archive Reference / Library Class No.D8760/F/FBO/1/3/1
Former ReferenceD3287/31/19
TitleLetter from Jane Franklin to sister-in-law Hannah Booth, on Franklin's tour of duty in the Mediterranean and the hopes of getting the Cracroft family to move to southern France or Italy
Date8 Feb 1831
DescriptionApologises for not writing sooner to send congratulations on the birth of Henrietta's baby boy. Notes that Hannah apparently knew about Sir John's arrival at Malta before she did, assumes the news appeared in a paper she did not see before his letter arrived; she had begun to feel uneasy when she did not hear from him, a letter he promised from Gibraltar had been delayed. This letter tells of various families who would receive Lady Jane if she travels to Gibraltar, and describes shipwrecked crews arriving there following violent gales in the Bay of Biscay. HMS Rainbow had partially struck one of these wrecks, and had to be taken to Malta to be repaired, rather than Sir John being able to go straight to Athens to join the Commander in Chief, as he had hoped. Sir John is now the senior officer in Malta, and 4th in rank in the Mediterranean. Sir John finds the Governor and his wife, Lady Emily Parsonby "very sensible and pleasant." Sir John intends to write to Hannah and Mr Sellwood, and Isabella [Cracroft] has received a letter from him. She is trying to persuade Isabella to move to the South of France or Pisa, for the sake of health of Tom [her son]. James, Sir John's brother, has put some money aside to pay for Isabella to go to Toulouse, and Lady Jane notes that at Toulouse and Montpelier there is "good society" and two colleges offering excellent and cheap education, plenty of cheap accomodation, good doctors and Protestant churches. Confesses that she is being selfish, since if Isabella moved to France or Italy she could join her there, when she cannot be with her husband. Describes the advantages of Pisa, and states that it would be a very desirable place for Mary to live, and that she should be persuaded to do so. Discusses religious differences between Mary and Isabella, and suggests that her 'bigotry' has been exaggerated by James since she allows her daughters to go to plays and balls and does not "hold forth" on the merits of the Bible and missionary societies. Ingoldmells is unsuitable for Mary's health. Has been asked by Mr and Mrs Wright to be godmother to Arthur, but they are too far away, and she needs to be in town to look after her father. Regrets that she was not presented to the King at a party at the Pavilion.
Extent1 sheet
LevelItem
RepositoryDerbyshire Record Office
Full Catalogue ListClick here to view a full list for this collection
SenderJane Franklin
Sender LocationBrighton
RecipientHannah Booth
Recipient LocationIngoldsmells near Spilsby, Lincolnshire
Archive CreatorBooth family of Ingoldmells, Lincolnshire
Gell family of Hopton Hall, Wirksworth

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