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Archive Reference / Library Class No.D8760/F/FEG/1/25/2
Former ReferenceD3287/31/7/3
TitleLetter from Mary Price to her cousin Eleanor Isabella Franklin, on assorted family news and news about Tasmanian matters
Date5 Apr 1844
Extent1 sheet
LevelItem
RepositoryDerbyshire Record Office
SenderMary Price
Sender LocationLindisfarne [Tasmania]
RecipientEleanor Isabella Gell
Recipient Location16, Seymour Street, Portman Square, London
Archive CreatorEleanor Isabella Franklin, later Eleanor Gell (1824-1860)
Gell family of Hopton Hall, Wirksworth
CopiesA digital copy of this item can be viewed on the public computers at the record office.
Transcript or Index[in pencil] Lindisfarne April 5 Mary Price 1844

My dear Eleanor
Mrs Maconochie has kindly offered to take a letter from to England for me so I shall inflict you with a few lines. I suppose you are by this time enjoying the delightful trade winds. The Maconochies will sail tomorrow with Mary and Anne a small though a very comfortable vessel. Capt. Maconochie seems to me looking rather aged & broken. Mrs Maconochie appears the same she always was. Kitty (Mrs Hill) is residing at Launceston where her husband Capt. Hill is stationed with his regiment. It is expected they will relieve the 51st in a couple of years. I hope before that period for the sooner we get rid of the 51st the better. They have never been a great acquisition.
Kitty Hill is very much grown & improved. They were so short a time here that we had not the opportunity of making Capt. Hill’s acquaintance. Mr Bagot left there 2 months ago, I fancy regretted by no one. The Wilmots got very much disgusted with him at last. I think a great deal of the misunderstanding that existed between our friends & Sir Eardley was caused chiefly by him – for Sir Eardley has been very kind both to Tom [Cracroft - in pencil] and Mr Price since you departed.
Mr Gregson has again been in hot water there has been a civil action brought against him by Mr Dobson in some arbitration case. (I do not know whether I use the right terms) but however Mr Gregson gained his cause and is to have 5000 lbs damages, of which he will not get 5000 pence. However Mr G. has gained his object in clearing his character and in exposing Mr Dobson. Mr Swanston &….. and a great part of that delectable clique – Mr Gregson pleaded his own cause. I am told most eloquently. For these last five months we have been kept on the alert by the numerous parties of armed bushrangers – some of which were in our neighbourhood. Tom’s party was within 4 miles of our house & it was said they intended to attack the house – but however they did not come, we were well prepared to give them a warm reception had they made their appearance. All our firearms were well loaded & the men & Mr Price sat up a portion of the night to await them. Bushranging has increased very much lately. 3 weeks ago there were 17 men under arms and scouring the country. 9 of these men and the 3 composing Jones party have been taken - 8 are still under arms & numbers of others without arms who are frequently escaping from the probation stations & Port Arthur. If very strong measures are not taken with these men this Country will not be safe to inhabit in a short time. 11 men were condemned to death 3 weeks ago & after the sentence was passed upon them one of them said “For what we are about to receive the Lord makest us truly thankful” can you conceive a more hardened villain. 5 only of these men were hanged the sentence of the others was committed to transportation for life. 6 more men are to be executed at Oatlands next week – So you see we are in a pickle. Our prospects do not seem very brillant. Considering all things I am not sorry that my Uncle has left (though personally no one can feel his loss more than I do.) I some times buoy myself with the hope that my Uncle may return here with a naval command but perhaps I am only building a castle in the air which the least gust of wind may blow away. – I long to hear how poor Sophy has borne the voyage. I had many misgivings about her & I feel very anxious for your first letters – I wrote Sophy a long letter by the Derwent & directed it to the Post office Exeter. All my little ones are flourishing. Freddy seems to think as much as ever of boats & ships. He went over to the observatory a few days ago and saw the ship my Uncle had given him. He was so much delighted with it that he talked of nothing else the whole evening. He certainly will be a sailor. Mr Gell has only been to see us once since you left. I wish he would find his way over here oftener than he has done. I heard him preach for the first time last Sunday week at Risdon. He gave us a very excellent sermon on confirmation. I heard through Aunt Cracroft that Emma was at a school in France. I hope it is not a Roman Catholic one. I trust you will have an opportunity of seeing her for I long to know all about her. If I knew the address of the school she is at & also if I thought she would not be prevented answering my letters I would write to her. – Good bye my dear Eleanor with best love to my Uncle and Aunt believe
Your affectionate Cousin
M Price
PS Remember me kindly to Anne Weld when you see her.
Lindisfarne 5th April 1844
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