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Archive Reference / Library Class No.D8760/F/FEG/1/1/4
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 to ancient historic sites
Date8 Nov 1832
DescriptionLady Franklin was unable to travel from Napoli di Romania [now Nafplio] to Patras because of robbers and lawless soldiers being in that country, so she went to Athens, famous as seat of ancient learning and for St Paul's preaching; Lady Franklin likely to return to Napoli and then meet up with him in Malta, where they will spend the winter, possibly in the society of Mrs Hanson and Miss Herring, Sophy Cracoft wil be visiting Lincolnshire which will be good for her health and where the society of her cousins will be amusing for her. He has not been far from Patras, only up the Gulf of Corinth to Vostizzia.
Extent1 sheet
LevelItem
RepositoryDerbyshire Record Office
SenderJohn Franklin
Sender LocationH.M.S. Rainbow, Patras [Greece]
RecipientEleanor Isabella Franklin
Recipient Locationc/o Mrs I. Cracroft, 4 Kelsey Cottages, Tunbridge Wells
Archive CreatorEleanor Isabella Franklin, later Eleanor Gell (1824-1860)
Gell family of Hopton Hall, Wirksworth
Transcript or IndexRainbow Patras 8th November 1832

My dear little Girl,
When I last wrote to your Mama was at Napoli di Romania, which is not more than 100 miles from where I was a few days afterwards. But there are so many robbers and lawless soldiers in this country that she could not travel even that short distance by land to meet me. She therefore went to Athens at which place I heard she was ten days since. Athens was the great seat of Learning in former days and there <are> still many beautiful remains of ancient buildings and temples, which all persons of taste like to see. You know also that S[t] Paul preached at Athens and poin[ted] out the true God, to those who were worshipping the statue erected to the Unknown God. Mama wished to have travelled across the Isthmus to Corinth and then to have come down the gulf <in a boat> to join me at Vostizza, but even this short journey by land was considered unsafe on account of the robbers. I think she will return to Napoli and as soon as she has seen the many places of interest in its vicinity, that she will go to a Malta in a ship of war. I hope also to be at Malta by the middle of December, and that we shall pass the winter together and perhaps have the society of your friends Mrs Hanson &, Miss Herring.
I think Mama will write to you from Malta. She always desires me to send her best love to you, to your Aunt and Cousins, which I hope you always remember to give. Emily Sellwood tells me your Cousin Sophy is going on a visit to Lincolnshire. I am very glad to hear that because I think change of air will improve her health, and the society of her Cousins be amusing to her.
I have been but a very little way from Patras since I last wrote to you. We sailed up the Gulf of Corinth as far as Vostizza, from which place you can see the celebrated Mount Parnasus and Delphos is near it, where the Pagan God Apollo had his largest temple. The ruins of <it> still remain.
I hope you continue to study your lessons well and to <do> everything cheerfully which your Aunt desires.
Believe me my dearest child your most affectionate father
John Franklin
Addressed to: Mrs I Cracroft, 4 Kelsey Cottages, Tonbridge Wells
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