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Archive Reference / Library Class No.D8760/F/FEG/1/1/5
Former ReferenceD3287/31/8
TitleLetter from Sir John Franklin to his daughter Eleanor Isabella Franklin, during his tour of duty in the Mediterranean, including on the expected arrival of the young Greek king, Otto
Date3 Jan 1833
DescriptionHe is pleased with her well-expressed letter. Lady Franklin left Patras for Zante, where the two of them parted, looking forward to excursions there and on other Ionian islands. He expects the arrival of King Otho shortly, and once he arrives, Franklin expects to be sent to Malta; King Otho is only aged 18 and will have three people called the Regency acting for him until the age of 21, before which time he will have to study, as will Eleanor. Lady Franklin not certain to return to England on the Rainbow, it being more likely she will return with Mrs Hanson and Miss Herring by way of Italy or France.
Extent1 sheet
LevelItem
RepositoryDerbyshire Record Office
SenderJohn Franklin
Sender LocationH.M.S. Rainbow, Patras [Greece]
RecipientEleanor Isabella Franklin
Recipient LocationUnknown [Likely to be c/o Mrs Cracroft]
Archive CreatorEleanor Isabella Franklin, later Eleanor Gell (1824-1860)
Gell family of Hopton Hall, Wirksworth
Transcript or IndexRainbow Patras Jany 3rd 1833

My dearest child,
I was much pleased with your letter because it is better written and better expressed than any I have received from you. Your Mama has not yet seen it, she having left Patras for Zante. I parted from her at Zante about ten days ago, she was then quite well and looking forward to the pleasure of making some excursions in that very beautiful Island; and afterwards visiting some of the other Ionian Islands which are in view from Zante, Kefallonia, Ithaca and Sta Maura all of which places possess many objects worthy of being seen. It is from Zante, you perhaps know, that almost the whole of the currants come grow which are sent to England. They grow on a small tree in one of the most beautiful vallies (valleys) I have ever seen, which includes nearly the whole of the central part of the Island. After the fruit is ripe, it is plucked from the tree and spread to dry on terraces, raised a little above the general surface of the ground. The women and children are placed to watch over the fruit and to turn the bunches as they require it. Your Mama was offered the loan of a house that stands on an eminence at one extremity of this valley and from its windows you could see the whole length of this beautiful valley, and all the people employed at their duties, duties in plucking and drying the currants. This therefore would be a delightful house for the summer or spring, but it was too far from the town, and perhaps too bleak to live at in winter. She therefore put up at a small Inn in the Town. It unfortunately rained every day of my stay at Zante except the first, so that we had only one long walk together. We are expecting the young King Otho to arrive in Greece very shortly, and as soon as he is seated in his kingdom I presume we shall then be ordered to Malta, to which place Mama will either go before or follow me very soon. She desired me to say she regrets that it will be out of her power to write to you this time.
The young King is only 18 years of age, too young therefore to govern the country by himself and he is to have three persons to act for him, who will be called the Regency. When he is 21 then he will govern in his own person until that time he will have to study as you and all young children ought to do.
Mama will be glad to hear you repeat the Hymn. It is not certain that she will come to England in the Rainbow. If Mrs Hanson and Miss Herring join her I think it probable she may prefer returning with them by the way of Italy or France. I must leave the other part of the sheet to write on to your Aunt. Many happy years to you and all your present companions is the prayer of your most affectionate Father John Franklin.
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