Record

D8760 - Gell family of Hopton Hall, Wirksworth - 1714-1994
- F - Family records of the extended Franklin family and the Gell family of Hopton Hall - 1714-1994
  - GJF - Records of John Franklin Gell - 1872-1873
    - 1 - Correspondence of John Franklin Gell - 1872-1873
      - 2 - Letters from Lady Franklin to her grandson John Franklin Gell - 1872

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Archive Reference / Library Class No.	D8760/F/GJF/1/2/1
Former Reference	D3311/108
Title	Letter from Lady Franklin to her step-grandson John Franklin Gell, inviting him and other Gell children to dine with the explorer Henry Morton Stanley the day after his arrival in England
Date	2 Aug [1872]
Description	Inviting Franklin and Philip (Mary and Henry also if they approve) to dinner to meet Mr Stanley, who recently 'discovered' Dr Livingstone. Would have invited his father [John Gell] if he had been in town. Mr Stanley arrived in town last night, so it is a rush to prepare the dinner, and she asks if Franklin can spare some bottles of champagne, which she will return when she gets a case she is expecting from Franklin's father. She is sorry to have missed Mary and Mrs Seaton when they called. Dated only 2 Aug, but it is known that Stanley returned to England at Dover on 1 Aug 1872
Extent	1 item
Level	Item
Repository	Derbyshire Record Office
Sender	Jane Franklin
Sender Location	No address
Recipient	John Franklin Gell
Recipient Location	No address
Archive Creator	John Franklin Gell (1851-1884)
Archive Creator	Gell family of Hopton Hall, Wirksworth
Transcript or Index	My dear Franky Will you and Philip (Mary and Henry also if you and they approve) come to us on Monday evening next to look at and talk to Mr Stanley (Livingston’s Discoverer) whom we have had the good fortune to secure at dinner for that day – had your father been in town I would have kept a place meant for him at dinner, but I believe he prolongs his stay in the country for a week and hope he does so as he must be much in want of rest. As we do not dine till 11 I think about 10 o’clock will be a suitable hour for you both or for you all to come. Mr Stanley arrived in town only last night and gives me a prompt and very ? reply to my invitation, so that it is worth something to be a grandmama. Instead of being a stalwart Kentucky-looking man, Lawrence tells me his is not taller than Mr Clintock, tho’ stouter. Don’t you think Livingstone’s style of writing very poignant? We are sadly pressed for time in making preparations for a dinner party which leads me to ask whether you can spare 2 or 3 or 4 bottles of Champagne, if you have any, and which I will return to you as soon as I get the case which I believe your father will be kind enough to procure for me from the Civil Service. Don’t send the sweet or Ladies Champagne. If you have the means of supplying me just drop me a line or call and I will send for it on Monday. We shall be out after 3 o’clock tomorrow, having engagements. I am sorry to have missed Mary this morning and Mrs Seaton, much love to you all, your affectionate grandmother, Jane Franklin. Friday Night August 2nd

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