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| Archive Reference / Library Class No. | D8760/F/FEG/1/18/1 |
| Former Reference | D3287/31/11 |
| Title | Letter from Mary Richardson, third wife of Sir John Richardson, to Eleanor Isabella Franklin, including references to those trying to comfort "Arctic wives and daughters" and the widespread ignorance of Arctic geography |
| Date | 24 Oct 1848 |
| Description | Delay in answering Eleanor's letter due to headaches and preparing for Josephine's departure; Eleanor's hopefulness raises her own; she has written to George Back, after failing to receive reply from Mr Barclay; sympathises with Eleanor's views on attitude to Arctic wives and daughters, with the unintentional mistakes caused by ignorance of northern geography; when anyone talks to her on the subject, she gets out a map and shows them the distance between the searching parties. The major difference between Christians concerns the turning to prayer rather than being orthodox; she recommends the Life of Fowell Buxton to Eleanor as an example of a man of prayer of true English character. Josephine and her governess left yesterday for London; sad that she was going, as she was making progress, but Mary had no choice: she is now governess to Beatrice and Willingham. Glad Mrs Kendall is in her house when Josephine is there as an example of cheerful submission. |
| Extent | 2 sheets |
| Level | Item |
| Repository | Derbyshire Record Office |
| Full Catalogue List | Click here to view a full list for this collection |
| Sender | Mary Richardson |
| Sender Location | Lancrigg |
| Recipient | Eleanor Isabella Franklin |
| Recipient Location | No address |
| Archive Creator | Eleanor Isabella Franklin, later Eleanor Gell (1824-1860) |
| Gell family of Hopton Hall, Wirksworth |
| Format | Document |
| Term | Franklin Expedition (1845) |
| Arctic regions |
| Transcript or Index | My dear Miss Franklin
Various headaches, and much occupation about Josephine’s departure has prevented me thanking you before now for your interesting letter. Your hopefulness has rather raised mine and I do not see why we should not cling to that report of December last; we cannot I fear now learn any more from that quarter as I conclude all the Hudson Bay ships are come in for this year, but this point I wish much to ascertain and have actually written to Sir George Back on the subject as Mr Barclay who is generally very kind in answering my letters has not taken any notice of one I wrote to him a few weeks ago, about the probability of a winter express to the Mackenzie. I conclude he is out of town, perhaps at Hudson’s Bay, itself – I quite sympathize in what you say about the manner in which people try to comfort the Arctic wives and daughters. The prevailing ignorance of the localities in the northern regions leads people to commit blunders they do not intend, so that when any one begins to talk to me on the subject I begin by unfolding the last map, and enlightening them on the distances between the searching parties – which they had not the least conception of before nor had I myself before I be[?....]d to the map, so that I ought not to be severe on others. I am sure that nothing makes so much difference, between one Christian and another as that power some have so much more than others, of ‘’being instant in prayer’’, of casting their care entirely on Christ, when repining thoughts arise – I should make this much more than any set of opinions the test of the religious life the point to be aimed at, much more than orthodoxy for I believe orthodoxy in God’s sight is the praying and trusting heart. – If you are at all able just now to fix your attention on any book, I wish you could read the Life of Fowell Buxton. He was eminently a man of prayer, and is besides a glorious example of the true English character the style of man which makes England what she is, among the nations.
Josephine her governess and Jack left us yesterday and I hope to hear of their safe arrival in London tomorrow. It was a most painful effort to me to send her away, she was improving so much here, and was so happy – but I had no alternative and now I shall feel I have done what I could. I am now governess to Beatrice and Wilingham and if I can inspire them with sufficient awe, we shall get on very well.
Will you give my kind love to Lady Franklin, and with my [?Mother] regards to both believe always very affectionately yours
M Richardson
It is a great comfort to me that Mrs Kendall is in our house when Josephine is there. – She is an admirable sermon on cheerful submission. |
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