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Archive Reference / Library Class No.D8760/F/FEG/1/34/5
Former ReferenceD3287/31/4/5-6
TitleLetter from Mary Anne Kendall to her cousin Eleanor Isabella Gell, including on her isolation due to smallpox outbreak, her financial worrries, the education of her sons Franklin and Edward, death of Aunt Betsey Franklin and on the impending search expedition of H.M.S. Plover
Date17 Jan 1850
DescriptionThanks to Eleanor’s husband for his kindness towards “our little Blue” [Franklin at Christ’s Hospital School]; will not be back in her own home until Saturday; hopes that she will be “more settled”; smallpox outbreak when staying at the home of a friend, so Mrs Gambier has taken her in; everyone else is keeping away from the writer through fear; had been due to go to the Parry’s for a “charade and tableaux” party, but they are shunning her; so she has had time to write this letter; does not think that she is infectious as she had not been near the patient; she does, however, have a bad cold; setting up Edward and Mary with clothes and other things; Franklin mentions Eleanor’s kindness towards him; Mrs Shackell has written that Franklin is in “good spirits”; Franklin suffering from deafness during the cold weather; please would Eleanor let her know if she has gone to any expense with Franklin; he had money for a cab; would like Mary to spend a day or so with Eleanor being coming home; trying not to plan too far in advance; thinking about going to Town for the Easter holidays to spend the holidays with “my chicks” but does not have enough money; has never been shorter of money than this Christmas; is in employment but people think she is better off than she really is; not a good time to come into Government employment; wants Edward to talk to Mr Gell about “school and future prospects”; wants Edward to devote himself to Greek and Latin; cannot afford a private tutor; Aunt Betsey has died after many years of bouts of illness and recovery; Aunt Betsey’s death is the sadder because there is still the “unknown reality”; feeling certain that there will be an “Eastern Expedition”; has been cheered by the news brought back by “Plover”; the Commander of the “Plover” believes that Sir John and his companions are safe, although does not know how he knows that; expects that Eleanor will see “Sir J.R” [John Richardson] as he is taking John to the crammer; love and wishes for the New Year.
Paper black-edged.
Extent2 sheets
LevelItem
RepositoryDerbyshire Record Office
Full Catalogue ListClick here to view a full list for this collection
SenderMary Anne Kendall
Sender Location7 Anglesey
RecipientEleanor Isabella Gell
Recipient Location16 Upper Seymour Street, Portman Square, London
Archive CreatorEleanor Isabella Franklin, later Eleanor Gell (1824-1860)
Gell family of Hopton Hall, Wirksworth
FormatDocument
CopiesA digital copy of this item can be viewed on the public computers at the record office.
TermFranklin Expedition (1845)

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Related Names
Name (click for further details)
Franklin; Elizabeth (1777-1850); sister of Sir John Franklin
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