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| Archive Reference / Library Class No. | D8760/F/FBO/1/5/1 |
| Former Reference | D3287/31/8 |
| Title | Letter from Sir John Franklin to his brother-in-law John Booth, during the travels of Sir John and Lady Franklin in Ireland |
| Date | 3 Nov 1835 |
| Description | Regret at not being in London when his letter arrived on helping cousin George Booth to get a position; Franklin would have written to the directors, of whom he knew only 3 personally, including Sir Felix Booth, whom Richardson knows better; any application will be need to be franked, otherwise it will be disregarded; Franklin happy to make personal application on return to London, unlikely to be before end of month; they are going with Captain Sabine tomorrow to the port of Valentia, considered the best location for terminus of rail road in western Ireland; if road ever goes ahead it will be of benefit in providing employment for the poor and introducing British capital; "jobbing" endemic in Ireland; the Franklins activated in enquiries "by the most sincere desire to improve the moral and religious condition of this benighted wretchedly misled people"; anxious to return, including to find out what Back has accomplished; sorry to hear about Hannah's illness [Booth's wife], glad Richardson was there to help; hope that Frank Richardson's mumps is over; their original plans were return to London earlier for Captain Lumley's Trafalgar party, but their keen interest in Ireland kept them there; kind of the Booths to have Mary Franklin with them so long; Margaret complains of Mary not writing, and if Margaret becomes Mrs Evans, it would not be desirable for Mary to be with Margaret; anxious to be in London to deal with the affairs of his later brother James; he asks if steps have been take about his monument; love to family members. |
| Extent | 1 sheet |
| Level | Item |
| Repository | Derbyshire Record Office |
| Full Catalogue List | Click here to view a full list for this collection |
| Sender | John Franklin |
| Sender Location | Limerick, Ireland |
| Recipient | John Booth |
| Recipient Location | Ingoldmells, Spilsby, Lincolnshire |
| Archive Creator | Booth family of Ingoldmells, Lincolnshire |
| Gell family of Hopton Hall, Wirksworth |
| Format | Document |
| Term | Naval personnel |
| Navy officers |
| Sailors |
| Transcript or Index | Limerick 3rd November 1835
My dear John
I regret extremely that I was absent from London when your letter arrived on your misssion on behalf of your Cousin George Booth. I should most gladly have rendered you all the assistance in my power, by speaking or writing to other Directors whom you name. I only know three of them personally. Sir F Booth, Mr Harrison and Sir Thos. Dyke Acland. The latter I believe to be now on his yacht travelling. Richardson knows Sir F Booth full as well and better than I do and I am persuaded his application would be more effective than mine with him, and with respect to Mr Harrison Richardson knows him also as one of the Governors of the H H B Co – and if not he can most easily get at him through Mr Garry or Pelly or Halkett. It is usual on making applications on behalf of candidates for any situations to send them under cover or Frank as I know from experience that many persons entirely disregard those where the postage has been charged. I have no means here of getting a Frank and I should therefore fear that on writing to any of the Gents you name on this subject without a Frank I might do harm. I should therefore rather recommend your getting Richardson to speak to the parties I have named and he may use my name if he pleases. When I return to London I shall be happy to make any personal application to the Governors that you may wish. I fear that we cannot expect to be in London before the close of the Month. We are going with Capt Sabine tomorrow to visit Valentia which is the port that has been considered the best situated for the Western termination of the Rail Road that is proposed to be run from London to the Western Coast of Ireland. If this road is ever made it will I am convinced prove a benefit to this country from the employment it will afford to the poor and from the encouragement it will offer for the introduction of British Capital. Under this impression I have felt it not inconsistent with my professsional duty to devote a good deal of time to the examination of the various harbours on the Western Coast which have been mentioned as well adapted to the termination of the Rail Road – that I might be prepared to give a judgement upon the subject if called upon. There is so much jobbing in everything undertaken in Ireland that it seems most desirable to have the opininon of some person unconnected with the country and I assure you both Jane and I have been led by the purest desire of gaining a true notion of the real state and feeling of the country – in all our examinations we both have gained information on many points which were quite inexplicable to us before our visit and have both been activated in our enquiries by the most sincere desire to improve the moral and religious condition of this benighted wretchedly misled people. These enquiries have detained us far beyond our first intentions and even now we are obliged to shorten them that we may return to England where we are very anxious to be for many reasons- and principally that we may ascertain what Back has actually accomplished. I also want to speak to Richardson about the whole proceeding. We cannot well leave Ireland without seeing Valentia, that seen we propose shaping our course for London.
I much lament to hear of Hannah’s serious attack, it was most fortunate that Richardson happened to be with you and I trust through God’s blessing that his prescription may again restore her to her health. Pray say everything [kind] to her from Jane and me. I am writing before Jane is up to save Post. I trust little Fran[k’s] mumps is past- if he were seriously attacked [it] would cause the deepest affliction to the Dr and Mary. May the Almighty in his mercy preserve him and them. I should have written to Margaret and to one of my sisters if I had been at all certain of our movements- or could have told them what our plans were- we had intended being in England long ago- before the Trafalgar party at Capt Lumlys- but our proceedings here seemed to be increasing in interest and especially at this time that Ireland occupies so much of the General Public’s attention and we therefore relinquished all our other plans to complete our visit in the Western part of Ireland.
It has been very kind of you to keep Mary Franklin so long with you. Sellwood tells me you all think her greatly improved, he also says she complains of her Mama’s silence and in Margaret’s letter she complains of Mary not writing. If Margaret becomes Mrs Evans I should question whether Mary would like to remain with them. I should even doubt whether it would be desirable. I am very anxious to return to London that poor James’s affairs may be closed, and this must enjoy my first attention on my return which I fear cannot be before the close of the month. Have you and Henry taken any steps about James’s Monument? Henry told me he would. Pray remember Jane and me most kindly to Hannah and to Tom and his dear wife and the Baby. I shall be anxious to tell you some of the fresh stories that have come to our knowledge some you could hardly credit.
Ever my dear John, Yours Affec, John Frank
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