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Archive Reference / Library Class No.D8760/F/FEG/1/1/2
Former ReferenceD3287/31/8
TitleLetter from Sir John Franklin to his daughter Eleanor Isabella Franklin, during his tour of duty in the Mediterranean, including references to Eleanor's continued improvement in different areas, his wife's travels and the situation in Greece
Date16 Jun 1832
DescriptionHe is pleased at the improvement in his daughter's letter writing. He has not heard from Mama for over two months, supposing her now to be in Smyrna or Constantinople. He is pleased at the marriage of her cousin Anne to Mr Kendall, whom he much esteems as a good Christian man. Her aunt and Dr Richardson tell him that she has grown, a sign of better health. Patras is more beautiful with the ripening corn, but the town is nearly deserted out of fear of attack by Greek troops who wish to drive away a chief who unjustly holds the place. He encourages her to study hard to learn French, which her cousins will soon teach her.
Extent1 sheet
LevelItem
RepositoryDerbyshire Record Office
Full Catalogue ListClick here to view a full list for this collection
SenderJohn Franklin
Sender LocationHMS Rainbow, Patras [Greece]
RecipientEleanor Isabella Franklin
Recipient Locationc/o Mrs. I. Cracroft, Kelsey Cottages, Tunbridge Wells
Archive CreatorEleanor Isabella Franklin, later Eleanor Gell (1824-1860)
Gell family of Hopton Hall, Wirksworth
Transcript or Index[To] Mrs I. Cracroft, Kelsey Cottages, Tonbridge Wells
HMS. Rainbow Patras 16th June 1832

My dearest little girl,
Your last letter to me was well written and well expressed and when I received it I wished that your Mama had been with me to have shared the pleasure I felt in witnessing the improvement of my little child, because it would have made her as happy as it did me. I have not heard from your Mama since the 2nd of April and therefore cannot tell how far she has got on her journey, but I suppose she has by this time arrived at Smyrna or Constantinople at both of which places she will find long letters from me. There is a post or courier that carries letters f[rom] Constantinople to England; you may perha[ps h]ear from Mama before I do because there is [a] certain conveyance for letters to Greece from thence. I was happy to hear of your Cousin Mary Annes marriage with a person I esteem so much as I do Mr. Kendall. I know him to be a good and a religious man, and am certain he will prove a very dear friend to your Cousin whom you know I love very much, because she was much beloved by your dear departed Mama. Your Aunt and Dr Richardson tell me you have grown. I hope you will continue to do so as it is a proof of your health being better and of your constitution getting stronger. I thought of you on your Birth Day and prayed to God with the fondest affection that he would bless, support and protect you – and I trust you pray to him daily for these and every other blessings he may deem fit to bestow on you. You should also pray for similar blessings on all your relatives and freinds [sic].

I am still stationed at Patras of which place I gave you a description in my last letter. It is now more beautiful than it was then as the corn is quite ripe and its yellow colour contrasts prettily with the dark ground of the rocks behind the Town. The houses however are nearly deserted by the inhabitants through fear of the Town being attacked by some Greek Troops who wish to drive away a Chief who has taken possession of the Town in opposition to the orders of the Government. I think there will not be any fighting, but the inhabitants have done very right getting away from a place so unjustly held by a bad man against the lawful authorities. I have not room to write much more. I have no doubt if you wish and try to learn French that your Cousins will soon teach you to speak it, but you must study it often and think upon each lesson after you have said it. Give my love to your Aunt and to all your Cousins. Believe me my dearest child ever your affectionate Father John Franklin

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HMS Rainbow; 1823-1838; Royal Navy ship
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