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| Archive Reference / Library Class No. | D8760/F/FBO/1/1/8 |
| Former Reference | D3311/36/5 |
| Title | Letter from Sir John Franklin to his sister Hannah Booth, while he is on Malta, on the marriage of John Richardson and Mary Booth, his opinions on members of the Kay family, and news of Lady Franklin's travels: with envelope |
| Date | 5 Apr 1833 |
| Description | Happiness at hearing of the marriage of Hannah's daughter Mary to his friend John Richardson, being pleased to act as a trustee for the marriage settlement; reassurance to Hannah on the suitability of Richardson as a husband. Amusement at Mrs Kay only hearing of the marriage via New Brunswick, given her meddling manner; her probably wishing for Richardson to marry one of her daughters or for Mary to marry Henry Kay, for which neither Franklin nor Hannah would have given consent, based on his antipathy to most of the Kay family. Hopes that good matches can be found for Emily Sellwood and Sophia Cracroft, the latter still a great invalid, then at Inverness. Receipt of interesting letter from her sister Betsey, which speaks of great suffering but also of calmness, magnanimity of mind, rectitude of heart and religious tone, one who has made sacrifices for the family, particularly as regards James, who does not sufficiently recognise the fact. Receipt of official approval for his conduct in Greece. News of Jane Franklin leaving for excursion to Delphi with friend Miss Herring; he expects their return in two days, although they will be separated for 16 days, as she will be in quarantine; he hopes to spend two months with her in Malta.
Postcript dated 5 April: Jane and her friend have arrived and he is going to see her.
Letter has lost a sizeable section along the right hand side of the 3rd page.
Envelope originally addressed to Miss Cracroft, Upper Gore Lodge. |
| Extent | 2 items |
| Level | Item |
| Repository | Derbyshire Record Office |
| Sender | John Franklin |
| Sender Location | H.M.S. Rainbow, Malta |
| Recipient | Hannah Booth |
| Recipient Location | Ingoldmells near Spilsby, Lincolnshire |
| Archive Creator | Booth family of Ingoldmells, Lincolnshire |
| Gell family of Hopton Hall, Wirksworth |
| Transcript or Index | Mrs Hannah Booth, Ingoldmells near Spilsby, Lincolnshire
Rainbow, Malta April 1833.
My dear Sister
I need not repeat the happiness I felt at learning from your letter as well as from one they have written to me that Mary & Richardson are married. I shall only say that I will with pleasure act as the Trustee to their Marriage Settlement and that I have already signed a Power of Attorney for Richardson to secure the HHBCo stock which will go home by this packet. It is very natural and proper that you should feel a maternal solicitude respecting Mary, but you will do well always to bear in mind that she is placed under the most affectionate vigilance of a very able and most judicious medical husband and kind consideration must calm all painful apprehensions. I am delighted at the kindness of Miss Booth and of Henry, they have both given proofs of affection for Mary and of their entire approbation of her marriage. I have long known that Henry has a regard for Richardson and I think he would be gratified by having his neice [sic] so nearly connected with him, and I shall not be surprised to find that he occasionally given them proofs of his regard for them both. I am amused at Mrs Kay's having first learnt the probability of this marriage through New Brunswick, this circumstance should teach her the little consideration people are disposed to place in her account of her meddling news telling habits. I dare say she would have liked one of her own daughters to have occupied Mary’s place, and I sometimes half fancy that she had led her son Henry to imagine he might have aspired to Mary’s affection - a most improbable prospect on every account. Neither you, Mr Booth nor I would for one moment have ever consented to her entering that family, had the advantages been ten times greater than they ever will be. Henry Kay however is a very amiable young man and so is William, with their exception and that of my very much beloved Mary Anne and Mr Kaye there is no member of that family for whom I can feel a particular affection. Now that my eldest neice is married and the ice broken in that way I should be delighted if I could lend a helping hand towards the precuring of equally good husbands for Emily Sellwood and Sophia Cracroft. The latter as I hear with deep regret still a great invalid, but I sincerely trust the Inverness air will produce additional strength.
I have a most interesting letter from our dear sister Betsey, interesting I call it, for though it speaks to me of her Great Suffering, it yet shows a calmness and magnanimity of mind, a rectitude of heart and such a proper tone of religion that I really must consider it as highly deserving of that appellation. She has, indeed made numerous sacrifices for the benefit of her family, but none so great were required as on the part of James, which has caused her present illness, and for of which he poor man seemed scarcely sufficiently sensible. It must give every pain to witness the course of his obstinancy and irritation and the […] hopelessness of recalling him to a prop[er ...] of duty & feeling. The accounts of […] though not so satisfactory as her fa[… …] appear to me very consolator[y. …] took forward when reestablishment […] this summer through the blessing of […] Bell's letters are very gratifying […] the accounts I receive of & from […] little girl, and as the whole as re[... …] members of our family we have […] reason to be thankful and to offe[r...] to God. You will discover from […] that I have ab[…] and it will be [....] that I left that place completely in […] its best friends could wish, and that since my arrival here I have received the most strong official testimony from the Commander in Chief of his entire approbation of my conduct during the arduous struggles at that place.
My dear Jane arrived at Patras the day I left accompanied by her friend Miss Herring and they also quitted it before me to make an excursion to Delphi, which they wanted to accomplish by the time the packet which brought them will come back from Corfu. They then, as well as Mrs Hanson, return on it to Patras and I expect them to arrive here in two days. Jane & I must however be separated for 16 days more as we shall be in different places of Quarantine, though we may see and arrange with each other if through the bars of the Parlatorio. After the quarantines are over I hope to spend two months with her at this place. The packet will only stay on for four hours so that he will not be able to write to Mary or any member of the family. I will deliver your messages to her. Give my best love to Mr Booth. I am and [....] membe[…] of the family. Ever […]
5th of April Jane has arrived in the packet with her two friends and is quite well. I have not yet seen her but I am now going to her. |