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Archive Reference / Library Class No.D8760/F/FSJ/1/4/2
Former ReferenceD3311/11/6
TitleLetter from James Franklin to his brother John Franklin, relating to the death of John's wife, Eleanor
Date9 Mar 1825
DescriptionAs he will have heard from Hannah [Booth] and Mrs Kay, he is saved the distressing task of telling him about the "melancholy event"; nothing could have stopped the progress of the disease, which was thought to have developed from whooping cough when she was aged 6; attendance at funeral by mutual friends; Mr Kay looking into a memorial tablet, but it would have been too expensive for the chapel where she is buried; the baby is in excellent health and going in Lincolnshire with Hannah; the tenancy of the house may be possibly by Miss Beechey, following apllication by the Beechey family. He has been able to contact through Mr Beaumont, brother-in-law of Mr Elliot, and Admiral Sotheron, Lord Combermere, who has indicated he may help when he gets command of the Indian Army; it does not look as if his wife will be able to join him, if he goes to India; greetings from Captains Kater and Sabine; Hannah returns to Lincolnshire in the next week or so, taking the baby with her; Hannah is uncomfortable with Mrs Kay, as she is an eternal fidget; Mr Garry will call to see the baby.
Extent1 sheet
LevelItem
RepositoryDerbyshire Record Office
SenderJames Franklin
Sender LocationLondon
RecipientJohn Franklin
Recipient LocationNo address
Archive CreatorSir John Franklin (1786-1847)
Gell family of Hopton Hall, Wirksworth
Transcript or IndexMy dear John,
The melancholy events which have occurred since your departure will have been communicated to you circumstantially by Hannah and Mrs. Kay and it therefore saves me the distressing task, it will be consoling however to inform you that no human means whatever could have arrested the progress of the disorder, and it is supposed that the it took its origin so early as 6 years of age when she had the hooping cough. The funeral was attended by all those mutual friends who really felt an interest in being present to pay the last mournful tribute the remains of your poor wife – and I think the arrangement on this point was just what you would have wished. Mr. Kay had made inquiries respecting a tablet to be present(?) and this matter cannot be in better hands than his but I fear it will be impossible to get one set up in the Chapel where she is buried as the fees are so enormous as to amount almost to a prohibition against erecting one in the Chapel but other means may be resorted to and Mr Kay has I know made enquiries regarding others. The Child is in excellent health and goes down with Hannah into Lincolnshire. I think the arrangement with respect to the Child is very good and I hope you will have reason to be satisfied with it when you return. An application has been made by the Beechey Family about the house, but I do not yet know the result. I hope it will end in their taking it as it is an object of great importance to get a Tenant who will take care of the Furniture. I believe it is intended for Miss Beechey who is on the point of being married.
Mr Elliot sent me through the means of his Brother in Law Mr Beaumont a letter to Admiral Sotheron who wrote to Lord Combermere about me and an answer has been received from Ld. C. saying that he shall be happy to [?]serve me when he gets into the Command of the Indian Army – he will be in town in April when I shall call upon him and offer services and if I find he wishes it I will go out to India in the same ship with him but at present I cannot say how that may be. Mr Maning(?) took up your note very kindly – he thought it best to write to Ld. Combermere instead of Ld. Amherst and I believe he has written so that I hope to stand pretty fair with Ld. C. on his arrival in Town and I must then see what can be done further. My Wife’s situation is against my going out, as I must certainly leave her behind and I do not like the idea of that – but it must be so if I find Ld. C. desirous of having me with him – Capts Kater and Sabine whom I saw yesterday were very anxious in [?] after you and desired to be remembered, indeed all your […] are particular in that respect. Hannah talks [?of going] into Lincolnshire the latter end of this week or beginning of next. I go over after to dine and spend the evening with them and shall contrive to do so during her stay, for I do not think she finds herself over comfortable with Mrs. Kay, who is such an eternal Fidget that it is quite annoying. I saw Mr Garry yesterday, he intends writing to you by this opportunity - he calls on Friday to see the Baby and will then give you his account of her – with every wish for your success and prosperous return, believe me to remain your affectionate Brother Jas. Franklin.
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