| Sender Location | [on board] Columbia American Packet, New York (Lat 42.30, Long 37.30) |
| Transcript or Index | Columbia American Packet to New York
8th March 1825 – Lat 42.30<N> Long 37.30 ‘[?]We
My dearest Love,
We have now reached the track of the homeward bound ships from America, and may probably have an opportunity of sending letters by them. I shall therefore commence one to you. We have had a very pleasant & favourable passage hitherto; the ship is fitted with more convenience for passengers than any I have before seen, and the Captain by his gentlemanly conduct makes every one feel at home. Though the wind has never, but for one day, been decidedly fair, yet we have had what sailors term [?] good slants, and if these continue, we may hope to reach New York about the middle of March. So far as to the ship – now for my companions; they are all very agreable, and my associates more particularly so – and I augur everything will go on happily and unanimously, during our journey. The voyage in the Superb has greatly improved my friend B, it has given him experience and judgment as well as <a better> manner. Mr K. seems every thing I could wish, he possesses tact and knowledge which will be very useful and to these qualifications may be added that of a cheerful good disposition. Of my invaluable friend R. I need give you no description. He has had his usual severe attack of sea sickness which confined him three whole days in bed but is now recovered, and able to enjoy the few comforts a sea life offers. Our mess mates have either all been seamen or have crossed the Atlantic so often that they are quite equal to bear their part in nautical confabulation excepting a solitary Spanish Engineer Officer who speaks no English and French but imperfectly, and perhaps the only Lady, who though she is the wife of a seaman seems little versed in Marine affairs. She is going out to join her husband or a Levant Captain of one of these packets who has now located himself as a Farmer near Albany in America.
It only remains for me to mention the marines and then I think you will have all the account of the party that can interest you. The Corporal is the only one among them who has escaped sea sickness – Wilson has had to lay the pipes aside. The delightful anticipations of [?] Money (the Poacher) as to <his> shooting deer have been entirely absorbed and Tyson the Doctors assistant could only think of the dire effects of the ship’s rude motion. But now “Richard is himself again” and they are all in glee. On Sunday morning I was agreably surprised by the Captain’s requesting me to read our service which I did most willingly, taking care to alter or omit the parts in which I thought the American part of the congregation could not be expected to join. We really felt happy in the opportunity of uniting our praise and thanksgiving with theirs, and of offering up our fervent prayers, “that the inhabitants of our respective countries may in peace & quietness serve thee our God, and that we may return in safety to enjoy the blessings of the Lord with a thankful remembrance of thy mercies <and> to praise and glorify thy holy name”, which is the conclusion of the beautiful prayer (modified for the occasion) directed to be used daily at sea. I need <sincerely> add my earnest supplications were then and have ever been since our separation, offered in yours and our dear Babys behalf. I have every hope that it will please God to restore you again to health, and that we shall meet after the lapse of a few short years to unite in thanksgiving and prayer to the Almighty – and to enjoy each others and our dear child’s society. I shall cherish this hope as a spur to my exertion and as the Beacon which I wish to attain. The intervening time will no doubt pass quickly with me, from my constant occupation of mind and body, and I sincerely trust you will soon be so much recovered as to follow those pursuits you most fondly cherish and that they may cause your hours to glide as happily and swiftly. Our dear little girl will assuredly be to you a source of constant pleasure amusement and occupation especially if she continues to enjoy the excellent health she has hitherto done. Bakers kindness to her and yourself will I think induce you to keep her, though she may wish higher wages than another <nurse> perhaps equally efficient would require. The difference however cannot be material – and I should wish you to retain her if it will afford you more comfort. You will have been informed that I gave a Sovereign to each of the servants when I left and thanked them for the kindness and assiduity they had shewn during your illness. The Cook was much affected, which increased the regard I have ever entertained for her.
The Doctor and I have been this morning talking over the books and papers we wish to have sent out, and have agreed that in addition to the Quarterly Review and Brewsters Philosophical Journal for my part, and Jamesons Philosophical Journal on his, to be sent from Murrays, that we should like the Observer weekly paper and the Literary Gazette. Will you procure these papers and the books, and give them to Mr Garry in March and May when the packets are sent from the Hudson’s Bay House. You must be careful however not to put your letters within the packages, for if they be bulky it is ten to one if they reach our winter quarters though the letters will. I do not think it will be necessary to pay Murray for the books at first – he has always given me a Quarterly Review – and probably will continue that act of generosity: at any rate it will be quite time to settle with him when we return.
I spoke to Mr Kay about Whittakers Bill and told him you wished the account to be looked over by some friend before the payment was made – he thought Mr Bond would be the best person and I really think from what I saw of him when you were ill, that he has still a great regard for you, and would undertake the task if you were to ask him. Perhaps it would be better to wait ‘till Sir Walter Scotts New Novel has been read, to see whether the perusal of that work by attracting attention of the public to it, <may> increase its sale. I mention this however en passant without the slightest wish to dissuade you from doing exactly as you desire. If you choose to pay Whittaker at once there is plenty of money at Drummonds.
The bustle in which I passed the last ten days in London prevented my writing the letter to Baron Cuvier to be sent with my narrative to the Academy of Sciences at Paris, which Trentel & Wurtz Soho Square offered to send over. I requested Mr Kay to get it done, if however he from the pressure of his business, should have omitted sending it, would you have the goodness <when > your health & strength permit to forward it – if my friend Capt Beaufort should call I am sure he would with pleasure undertake to speak <of me> to Trentel & Wurtz. The copies are locked up in the Drawers <of the Library> farthest from the door and next to the window. I suppose you will now get your copy bound. I should also wish to have Parrys 1st Voyage bound with the Appendix and likewise his second as soon as the Appendix for that is out, which I should think Murray will send for me, if not will you get it. I will thank you also to get my copy of the Veils bound with the Arctic Expeditions and your odes – these to be like the Coeur de Lion. It would be well as you advised to have my name written in all the works which have been recently got from Murrays. This however can be done at your leisure or when you have a willing Amanuensis at hand.
When this letter was begun there was a vessel in sight <with> which I thought we might communicate, but it did not pass sufficiently near, so that I shall have more opportunity of mentioning whatever occurs to me, and I now recollect that you may not have distinctly understood what I had arranged respecting the <annual> sum we propose to allow our dear sister Isabella. I gave to Mr Sellwood as you know £100 for her use at Nottingham, this together with the <greater portion of the> interest of the £500 or mortgage at Horncastle which I have also directed him to give her, will nearly amount to £150 <or> the sum for three years, expiring in July 1827, after that date I should be glad if you find you can do it. That you would continue the £40 annually in such proportions as may best suit your convenience till my return. Mr Sellwood last year advanced to the same estate on which the mortgage is held another £100 in my name to save the expense of other deeds, and he left to my option either to pay this £100 or not as I pleased – if at that time I did not think we should have the money to spare, and therefore deferred taking it, but if you should in the course of a year or so be able conveniently to spare the sum, I should prefer taking it as the money would be very secure and make a greater interest than in any other way. You will only have to send the money down to Mr Sellwood and say it is for the additional £100 on the mortgage, and he will return you a receipt . Let not however this be done unless you can spare the sum with entire ease to yourself.
7th March – We have now passed the Great Bank of Newfoundland from whence as you perhaps know the fish are principally procured for the Portuguese Spanish & even French markets. They are dried & salted by the crews of the ships and often carried direct to their ports. A great decrease in the Temp of the water from 48° to 30° proved that we must have passed near to a large body of ice, though it was hidden from our sight by the Fog. The season is too early for large Icebergs to be floating so far to the Southward. I should therefore conceive the ice was fast to some shoal or rocks Northwards of the ship. The cause of the dense Fogs which are always found over these Banks is a subject worthy of investigation. I am not aware that any person has mentioned an opinion on the subject. The water on them is 30 40 & 50 fathoms. Can you give any solution to this question?
The books which Mr Stokes gave me have afforded us much amusement as they contain short accounts of all the earliest voyages. I think we shall endeavour to carry them on for the men to read at their winter quarters, they will learn from the perusal <of> them <with> what difficulties other Navigators have had to contend – and with what success their efforts were in most cases crowned. This information will I have no doubt encourage & stimulate us & them to the most active exertion. The piety too of the earliest Navigators is highly worthy of attention & example. We have tried many of our Astronomical Instruments and are quite satisfied with them: in fact our whole equipment seems to be complete.
12th March. We were tantalized this morning with a fairer wind which raised hopes of our reaching New York tomorrow, but these are now damped by the appearance of a decidedly contrary breeze. I am glad to find from conversation with our American Passengers that our shortest way from New York to Lake Huron is by the Falls of Niagara as we shall have the opportunity of seeing and taking sketches of this stupendous cascade. The going by Montreal will take me so far out of my way that I shall avoid that if possible and manage my business at that place by letter. Mr Back has been so kind as to draw a sketch from memory of the Porden Isles of our last voyage with Point Turnagain in the distance, which he begs me to present to you with his compl.ts – the thought and execution entirely originated with himself and therefore we ought to feel obliged to him.
14th March 8 o’clock The ship has just anchored about 10 miles from New York where we expect the ship to arrive tomorrow and as the neat Packet sails <for dry land> on the following morning and I shall in all probability be much engaged after I land, I have determined on finishing this tonight – and reserving the account of the City till my next communication which will be dispatched a week after this. I shall <also> write to your Sister at that time, in the mean while pray give my love to her and all the family. You will <I trust> be in a state of convalescence if not quite restored to health before this letter reaches you and able to enjoy a walk every day. This spring seems to have commenced on this side of the water, if we may judge from the three last fine pleasant days, indeed we have not had more than two bad days the whole passage.
How fares our little darling? Often have I thought of you both, and been amused at <my [? recognition] of> her interesting looks and laughing face. I sincerely hope she may be favoured in the getting her teeth, though we must expect some reduction in her fat sides, and a little irritability from these trials. Kiss her heartily for Papa.
It has just occurred to me that I have left in the further part of the table drawer in my dressing room the <Duplicate> keys of the Powder Kegs – they are of brass or copper and shaped thus [small sketch, in shape of small spanner]. Will you give them to Mr Garry addressed to me, to be sent out by the Hudsons Bays ships <in May. We have plenty of Powder in other Kegs to last ‘till they reach me. They might be enclosed in the parcel with the reviews or newspapers.
We have heard by the Pilot that Mr M Gillivray only arrived here on 26th of last month, and the packet that sailed from Liverpool before us has not yet arrived, so that we did wisely in remaining the last week in London.
Now my dearest may God bless you and our little fatty I shall write again before we leave New York.
Ever yours most affectionately
John Franklin
All my companions desire their kind remembrances to you, and their hopes for your reestablished health.
15 March – The ship is under weigh again endeavouring to gain the City, but as the wind is light & unfavourable it is doubtful whether <it will> get to it today, but we shall land this evening and dispatch our letters. I shall want to purchase some few things here, and shall probably draw a Bill on Drummonds for the amount.
[Written on the back in another, later hand]
a letter from Captain Franklin to his 1st wife written at intervals from the 1st to the 15 March1825 – on his voyage to New York preparatory to beginning his 2nd Arctic Expedition.
Mrs Franklin never received it as she had died on the 22nd Feb’y previous. |