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Archive Reference / Library Class No.D8760/F/FEG/1/2/15
Former ReferenceD3287/31/8
TitleLetter from Lady Franklin to her step-daughter Eleanor Isabella Franklin, on her travels on the Australia mainland
Date21 Jun 1839
DescriptionWriting on scraps of paper, cannot get any more, hopes Papa will have told Eleanor amusing and interesting things from her letters, although Eleanor cannot be told everything; at Sydney, tour with bishop whilst awaiting sailing of the "Medway"; in a pretty location, river, steep rocks and woods, cultivated gardens and cottages, orange and lemon trees; with bishop to locate site for clergyman's house, found a delapidated chapel, other chapels in the district; carriage carrying Sophy, Captain Moriarty and Mr Elliott hit a tree and wheel fell off, managed to fix it with ropes; Mrs Marshall thrown off the bishop's carriage when it went over some stones, bruised her knees, road is bad; Sophy fell off her horse in the bush going from Port Phillip, Dr Hobson will have mentioned it; no other mishaps; she is pleased with Miss Williamson's account of the town, and should also go with Jane Franklin and Eleanor to see it again; have seen almost all their friends from the "Farlie" although doesn't count people on the landing stage at Melbourne as friends (Mrs Hawkey, Mr Cobb, Mrs Green, Major Smyth, Miss Needham, Mr Terry Hughes the "heir of a great Convict Millionaire", Mr Seymour, a settler, Mr and Mr Wilson and 4 children); Mr W. has given her an oil painting of an aboriginal girl; Mr W. farmed sheep but lost them, will try again, makes chalk portraits at 5 guineas each, has given one as well as pencil drawings of the Cape; Miss Williamson has done research for training school; Lady Darling's school flourishing; the two Snashalls coming back with them", may also bring back a new "free" coachman; if they had gone to New Zealand, they would have been home a long time ago; "jeux d'esprit" distributed at the School of Industry, Mr Elliott paid half a crown for a note addressed to Lady Franklin, couplet inside; discussion of couplets and mottos; Love to Miss Williamson, love to Mary, and to Mrs Gould, Sophy would have written but Lady Franklin has given Eleanor all the news.
Extent3 sheets
LevelItem
RepositoryDerbyshire Record Office
SenderJane Franklin
Sender LocationWiseman's Ferry on the Hawkesbury [River in Australia]]
RecipientEleanor Isabella Franklin
Recipient LocationNo address
Archive CreatorEleanor Isabella Franklin, later Eleanor Gell (1824-1860)
Gell family of Hopton Hall, Wirksworth
TermIndigenous populations
Ethnic groups
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