| Description | Concerned that Captain Franklin is pushing himself too hard, 'publicly and privately'. Eleanor's own health is aided by leeches and there seems concern for a more serious problem. Concerns over items for the expedition, binding of books for the 'Esquimaux', religious or otherwise, and silk for the flag. Comment on Mr Kay, Marsh's dividend and Captain Franklin's brother. |
| Transcript or Index | Dec.20 1824.
Indeed my darling, you are a very good boy, and have written abundantly since your letters began to tell, but your Cross Country Posts are cross things, and in your flying tours your absence is generally half over before I begin to hear from you. Moreover I can assure you that I have no dislike whatever to your going to Nottingham except that I fear you will run yourself so hard with your own business as to find it impossible to get properly through with it, either public or private; and what you are about, the parties concerned ought to be able to do as well without you.
I was sorry to find my letter just too late for the post on Saturday, but was in too much pain to have written earlier. The Doctor ordered me some Leeches which Miss Appleton had the kindness to apply, & which relieved me considerably. I have since had some ointment to rub on with the view of exciting an eruption. You ask what I think. The truth is, all these things are very symptomatic but it is impossible to tell yet.
I send the notes I told you of with the view of making a parcel to look a little business like at the Admiralty. Captain Hawkers two books are as gay as Crimson & Blue Silk & Gold can make them, and put me again in mind of Parry’s pink Satin Counterpane. They are fitter to be under a glass <case> in a drawing room with pet china and Essences than to toss about among the Esquimaux. Moreover as religious books I think more modest bindings more decorous, at any rate more suited to the printing & paper. The poetry seems to have some good names among it but I can think little of the accuracy of a work which takes <one of> Mason’s beautiful & well known <hymns,> alters it just enough to spoil it, & gives it as anonymous. The Prose seems to be a map of Calvinistic verbiage which I should be sorry to prostitute my reason or taste in the perusal of. The Nature of the Books is what I should have expected from such a quarter, but the little I saw of the Lady would have led me to expect something in rather better taste, something which if I did not perfectly agree <with> in doctrine, I should at least not feel that a woman of <any> education would be ashamed to have seen on her table. I am writing post haste, & again afraid to be too late. Baby is well & Capt.n Beaufort has instructed me about the flag, but I find some difficulty in getting the silk of the proper width. I had more to tell you about Mr Kay, but it must wait. However I hope all will go on well with care. Dr Thomson tells me that Marsh’s are likely to pay a dividend <of> [?]14/o in the pound which is good news on that score.
must leave many little matters untouched, for I have been interrupted till my head will not recall them. Your Brother goes down on Thursday next, but I am afraid his visit will give less pleasure than I hoped, as he must be back on the Friday following to be presented at the Geological. I have <said> almost more than I felt authorized, but neither persuasion nor reason, nor reproof has any effect on him, so he must do his own way. Pray remember me very kindly, especially to Mr & Mrs Elliott. I would have cooked a message or two but have no time. I have even sent Baby out without a kiss, the Poppet, but I will pay her after,
ever your affectionate
E.A. Franklin. |