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| Archive Reference / Library Class No. | D8760/F/FKA/3/1 |
| Former Reference | D3287/31/8 |
| Title | Letter from Elizabeth Franklin to Miss Kay [probably Mary Anne Kay], mainly on information from John Franklin about the progress of his second Arctic land expedition |
| Date | 10 Jun 1826 |
| Description | Good wishes on birth of child [Eleanor Franklin Kay, born 1 Jun 1826] to Mr and Mrs Kay; has seen sister Cracroft and niece Eleanor [Franklin]; received letter from John Franklin dated 7 Sep 1825 at Fort Franklin, Great Bear Lake, all well at that date; further letters before the Winter season have not turned up; letter was addressed to Mrs Sellwood, letter says that weather has been good and allowed them to do what they needed to do; that they had been to the sea to get information in readiness for Spring, named an island, view from summit, no sea ice to be seen, saw whales and seals, expect open water in Spring; coal and bitumous earth on the island, Carry's Island, driftwood, moose, reindeer, geese, swans, so hope to live like "fighting cocks"; did not meet Inuit (Esquimaux) because they were at sea whaling, but sent a message to them that there and would return in Spring and "hopes all will be satisfactorily settled with them when they meet"; their neighbours were delighted to see John Franklin; officers building finishing interior of mansion; they depend on fish during winter; Dr Richardson scouting out the point of return for his party from the mouth of the Copper Mine River; nearly all Canadian voyageurs have been discharged, expedition party now almost all British, good boots; Elizabeth hopes that Miss Kay will visit Lincolnshire to see her Uncle John Franklin's family in person; little Eleanor going to the coast for a cure for her eye problem; comparisons between England and France; schooling in Brighton for her nieces; mention of Captain Parry 's expedition and request to Lord Melville; mention of Captain King's expedition; reference to niece Mary Booth being absent for health cure; not heard yet from brother since he reached India; description of little Eleanor, celebrated her birthday [3 June]. |
| Extent | 1 sheet |
| Level | Item |
| Repository | Derbyshire Record Office |
| Sender | Elizabeth Franklin |
| Sender Location | Horncastle [Lincolnshire] |
| Recipient | Mary Anne Kay |
| Recipient Location | 6 Gower Street, Bedford Square, London |
| Archive Creator | Kay family of London |
| Gell family of Hopton Hall, Wirksworth |
| Term | Inuit |
| Ethnic groups |
| Indigenous populations |
| Mackenzie River Expedition (1825) |
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