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Archive Reference / Library Class No.D8760/F/FEG/1/1/3
Former ReferenceD3287/31/8
TitleLetter from Sir John Franklin to his daughter Eleanor Isabella Franklin, during his tour of duty in the Mediterranean, mainly on the travels of his wife
Date14 Jul 1832
DescriptionHer last letter was sent to Lady Franklin, so he cannot answer all the questions in it but she might. Lady Franklin has been to Alexandria, Cairo (not a pretty city) and the pyramids, of which she climbed the largest, albeit the last part was in a chair contrived for her and dragged by her guides; he had heard she and Owen [her maid] were at Jeresualm on 24 May, and were to embark on ship from Acre for Constantinople via Cyprus, Rhodes and Smyrna; she will be visiting places sacred to Christians and they must read their Bibles to be familiar with the scenes and places. Fanny Simpkinson has died, and he is glad Eleanor is sorry, as they should all endeavour to be good and prepared for death; Aunt Simpkinson is in great grief , as will be Lady Franklin when she hears of it, as she was fond of little Fanny; cousin Henry sends his love.
Extent1 sheet
LevelItem
RepositoryDerbyshire Record Office
SenderJohn Franklin
Sender LocationPatras, Greece
RecipientEleanor Isabella Franklin
Recipient Locationc/o Mrs I Cracroft, 4 Kelsey Cottages, Tonbridge Wells
Archive CreatorEleanor Isabella Franklin, later Eleanor Gell (1824-1860)
Gell family of Hopton Hall, Wirksworth
Transcript or IndexPatras 14th July 1832

My dear little Eleanor,
I sent your last letter to your Mama very shortly after I received it because I know she will be very happy to receive an account of yourself in your own writing. I cannot therefore answer all the questions you put in this letter but your Mama will perhaps, when she has the opportunity of sending letters home. Your Mama wrote to me last Easter Sunday fro[m] Alexandria and she had then just returned from visiting Cairo and the pyramids of Egypt. [… do] not think Cairo a good or pretty city though [?it is] large, and there are people to be seen in its stre[ets] from almost every part of the East. But [with] the pyramids she was much pleased and wen[t] to the top of the largest and wrote a note to her Father in pencil at that spot. She could not walk up all the way and therefore a seat was contrived like a chair with a back to it which was dragged up by her guides. I dare say she will tell you all she saw from the top when she can write to you. I have heard since from a friend that Mama & Owen and all her companions were at Jerusalem on the 24th of May and all quite well. They were to embark on a ship at Acre and go from thence to Cyprus Rhodes Smyrna & Constantinople, and I hope she is now at the last named place.
Mama will have visited most of the places which are dear and sacred to Christians on account of our Saviours sufferings, and she must likewise have seen many places in which our Saviour lived. Will it not be delightful to hear her describe these places, if God spares our lives to meet together at home. We must read our Bibles that we may be familiar with the scenes and places she will then speak about and be ready to follow her account as she changes from one place to the other.
Poor Fanny Simpkinson is dead, and I am glad to find you were very sorry for that event. You see my dearest child that we should all endeavour to be good and to be prepared for death when it pleases the Lord to call us away. Aunt Simpkinson is in great grief for her loss and so will Mama be when she hears of it, as she loved little Fanny. Cousin Henry desires his love, he often speaks of you to me. Give my love to all your Cousins. Believe me my dear child ever your affectionate Father John Franklin.
Addressed to: Mrs I Cracroft, 4 Kelsey Cottages, Tonbridge Wells
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