| Description | Travel arrangements for John Franklin coming to Horncastle, death of Mrs Burnside, arrangements for care of Catharine, arrangements for house at Thimbleby, family health news, Hannah has had cholera, is still very weak, Elizabeth's own poor health, death of Mrs Booth of Stamford, funeral held against wishes of "our Brother Booth", Mr Wright has taken curacies near Horncastle, new coach from Horncastle to Boston, news of friends and neighbours, Mr Sellwood on news of new coach from Boston, Mr Cracroft expected, people going through Horncastle to get to Lincoln Races, Race Ball, thanks to Eleanor for kind letter, glad to hear her health has improved, she frequently thinks of the baby sat with her father.
Difficult hand with cross-hatching (transcript available) |
| Sender Location | Horncastle [Lincolnshire] |
| Recipient Location | 55 Devonshire Street, Portland Place, London |
| Transcript or Index | Horncastle
Sep.br 28th 1824
Capt. Franklin, R.N.
My dear Brother,
As I know tis your intention to come into Lincolnshire at the time Mr Cracroft [of York – crossed out] is at [?] Flemington and think it probable you will return here before you show your dear Phizz amongst us, I shall address my scribble to you at your Town residence as I wish you to be informed that we are now so fortunate as to have a Coach every day from Lincoln to this Place. It gets here at five o’clock in the afternoon, & leaves Horncastle at nine every morning. As there is a direct communication from London to Lincoln, we think you will like to avail yourself of this Coach, in preference to the uncertainty of getting from Spilsby – particularly if you think it necessary to go to Nottingham before you travel our way - a circumstance we think likely to happen, in consequence of our lamented friend, Mrs Burnside’s death. Indeed, though Mrs Gordon in her letter to me did not say she had written to you on that subject, I have no doubt of your being acquainted with the painful event, & <are> probably desired to attend the Funeral. Poor little Catherine is happily too young to feel sensible of the irreparable loss she has sustained, & I sincerely hope she will never know the want of her dear Grandmama’s affectionate attention. The lady she is now with is, I have always understood an exceedingly amiable Woman & well calculated to act the Parental part towards the Child, but you, I think, have the advantage of a Personal acquaintance with Mrs Dashwood, & are therefore better able than myself to form an opinion.
Mrs Gordon tells me in her letter poor Mrs Burnside has requested the child may remain where she is with Mrs Gordon until our dear Brother and Sister’s opinion on that subject reaches England - so that Isabella’s plan, I am sorry to find, cannot be acted upon yet awhile at any rate. The House at Thimbleby seems a hopeless case, too - so that something else will doubtless be fixed upon as soon as the affairs can be arranged, etc. I am happy to say Isabella & her little ones continue pretty well, as also the Wrights – but our sister Hannah has been a most grievous sufferer from Cholera Morbus – which had endangered her life, & indeed rendered it still a precarious one, as the sickness will not keep off. She had now been a month so situated, & until <I received> last Monday’s account the sickness had never been checked longer than a couple of days together, so that her state [of] weakness is very great: as she is ordered to be kept very quiet and not considered in danger now – we have not any of us seen her, indeed I have for some weeks not been able to leave Home, but Dr Bonsfield has I believe propped me up again, or is likely to do, for he still attends me, tho’ I am tolerable again.
Mrs Booth of Stamford’s death you have probably heard of. The funeral, strange to say, & much against the wish of our Brother Booth, took place at Stamford last Monday. Mr Wright is now all anxiety to get a House in or near Horncastle, as he has taken Hemmingsby [Hemingby] and probably Fulletby curacies, which obliges him to live nearer us.
Our old friend, Mr Hunt, has been spending a few days at Dr Bonsfield’s, & asked kindly about you both, as do also many of our neighbours, particularly Mr Short. Eliza Brackenbury has been visiting Mrs Bonsfield for the last ten days, & would have been here had I been in well enough to receive her. Mr Sellwood has been telling me we are to have a coach from Boston to this Place very soon - see what opposition does for us!
Mr Cracroft is expected at Harrington, provided his Health permits – somewhere about the 10th of next month. The world and his wife are passing through this Place for Lincoln races – if you come soon you will be in time for the Race Ball, or the Stuff Ball, if you like it better. Jesting apart, my dear John, I am glad to hear such good accounts of your Health and gaiety, though I cannot enjoy myself, it delights my Heart to hear my dear relatives are better situated. Ellenor’s kind letter raised my spirits & amused me very much – tell her with my love I will send her one of my humdrums in return ere long, & that I am very glad to hear her Health is so much improved, & that Baby promises to bear or name it to the sisterhood. I have her frequently in my mind’s eye, seated on you shoulder, and seeing her little cheeks shake by a glorious trot on your knees. Kiss her fat face for Uncle, Cousins, & for your Affectionate Sister
Elizabeth F.
[Addressed to]
Captain Franklin R.N.
55 Devonshire Street
Portland Place
London
[Postmarks]
Horncastle
B 1 OC 1824 |