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| Archive Reference / Library Class No. | D8760/F/FSJ/1/1/41 |
| Former Reference | D3311/8/4/3 |
| Title | Letter from Eleanor Anne Franklin to her husband John Franklin, a few days after the birth of their daughter |
| Date | 11 Jun 1824 |
| Description | Feeling tired after having been to church and gone for a ride in the afternoonon; shas been gaining ground fast since she went there, but postponement of visit to Chatham was wise; Dr Thomson came with Mrs Dingley and gave his approval to Tonbridge, but felt it would be better to go there from Chatham, and if they have to go to London, they go there before Chatham; he had been to Devonshire Street and seen Sarah but acted with prudence, not letting her think that he had been summoned by Eleanor but merely named in Franklin's note as having a cold; he tought there was noit much the matter with her, but would go again; he would not take his fee; he did not know about her inpending marriage until told by Eleanor and her sister; no signs of the lungs being affected, so they have to make the plasterer the scapegoat. She has made progress with Captain Hall and likes him very much. She writes 'You are not so civil to the books I want you to read. Are you? Naughty boy!', but is too fatigued to say more than that; she hopes he has enjoyed his tour as much as she has of every new object ,having had her mind bound by four walls so long; she longs to have him back.
Written Sunday, 8 pm. Tonbridge has been added in pencil, but this would not seem to be the place where the letter was actually written [possibly Greenwich] |
| Extent | 1 sheet |
| Level | Item |
| Repository | Derbyshire Record Office |
| Sender | Eleanor Anne Franklin |
| Sender Location | No address |
| Recipient | John Franklin |
| Recipient Location | 55 Devonshire Street, Portland Place |
| Archive Creator | Sir John Franklin (1786-1847) |
| Gell family of Hopton Hall, Wirksworth |
| Transcript or Index | Sunday June 11th 8pm 1824
[in pencil] Tonbridge. Her daughter was born June 3.
My Dearest Love,
All the rest if the world is walking out this fine Evening, but I, having been to Church in the morning and had a ride in the afternoon have done quite as much as I am equal to, and am very tired. I thought however that you would be disappointed if you did not find a few lines from me on your arrival at home tomorrow and Mr Kay will be off before I am up.
I have gained ground very fast since I came here, but you must not expect too much at once, even from country air, and I feel that the postponement of the journey to Chatham was wise. Dr Thomson drove over here with Mrs Dingley on Friday, and gives Tonbridge his decided approval <in every way> but thinks our better plan both for shortening our journey and seeing beautiful country would be to go there from Chatham, and if we must go to London before we visit Dr Richardson. I know not however what arrangements you have made, or how this plan might prove more or less convenient than the other. Dr Thomson had been to Devonshire Street and saw Sarah, but as he observed, “he acted with the prudence which a medical man ought always to have”, and did not alarm her by letting her suppose I had summoned him on her account, but merely <said that your note> named her cold and spoke to her accordingly. He thought “she did not appear to have much the matter with her, but he would see her again”, I believe today. I tried hard to make him take his fee but he would not. – He did not know about her impending marriage till sister and I told him, but as he seemed, even without that <explanation of> extra nervousness to find no settled disease, and above all no signs of any affection of the lungs, I trust we may make the plasterer the scapegoat and dismiss our apprehensions.
All here are very well. I have made great progress with Captain Hall, & like him very much. You are not so civil to the books I want you to read. Are you? Naughty boy! but I am really too much fatigued to say more than that I hope you have enjoyed your tour, as much as I do the sight of every new object, after having had my view so long bounded by four walls, and that I long to have you back, nevertheless,
ever your affectionate wife,
E.A. Franklin.
[Addressed to]
Captain Franklin R.N.
55 Devonshire Street
Portland Place |