| Description | Details concerning postal arrangements. Lady Franklin remains in Greece, having sailed from Athens, and is likely to go to Smyrna or Alexandria. He is leaving Malta in a few days and will be glad to be at sea. Her cousin Frank Simpkinson is on the Britannia in the same station and her cousin Henry, a tall, nice young man, always enquires kindly after her. Franklin expects to be home before next Christmas and looks forward to embracing her and seeing her improved in knowledge and manner; he is glad she has not suffered from the illnesses of her aunts and cousins. He has not heard from cousin Catherine since she went to live at Aspley, but she writes well and sensibly, which he hopes Eleanor will do as well after much practice. It is St John's day on Malta, where it is celebrated as a great feast. Aunt Betsey was in London but should be settled in Lincolnshire by now, a most amiable and deserving person, whom Eleanor must love and pray for. P.S. 27 June, vessel not yet returned from Athens, so no news of Mama. |
| Recipient | Eleanor Isabella Franklin |
| Recipient Location | c/o Mrs Cracroft, 4 Kelsey Cottages, Tunbridge Wells |
| Transcript or Index | Rainbow Malta 24th June 1833
27th June I sail tomorrow if it pleases God
My dearest Eleanor,
I did not receive any letter from you nor your Aunt by the last packet, which makes me suppose either that your Aunt had not recovered entirely from the Influenza which I was sorry to learn had attacked several of the family, or that neither of you were aware that the Mail for the Mediterranean is now made up in London on the 1st of every month. You must recollect, that in future your letters will have to be sent to the Agent two days at least before the first or I can have no chance of receiving them till the following month. I hope you received the joint letter which Mama and I wrote - she left me a few days afterwards and sailed for Athens in a schooner called the Lady Emily, accompanied by Mrs Hanson & Miss Herring. They were to go from Athens to Egina, then either to Corinth or Epidaurus and to Napoli di Romania, and they intended to finish their present incursion at Patras. Her two companions will proceed from thence to Ancona, and afterward to England but your Mama remains a little time longer in Greece and from thence she will probably sail to Smyrna or Alexandria. I may perhaps have the pleasure of seeing her at Napoli in ten days time as I am to call at that place on my way to join the Admiral, who is at the mouth of the Dardanelles. I am to leave Malta in three or four days, which will be very agreeable to me, as I will be at sea again now that my ship has been completely refitted. I should much like you & your Cousins to see her now. I think you would scarcely recollect the way you should turn after getting down the ladder, to enter my cabin. Your Cousin Frank Simpkinson is now on this station in the Britannia a ship having three decks & carrying 120 guns. He is much grown looks very cosy and I hear that he is an active boy and fond of his profession. Your Cousin Henry is very tall and a very nice young man, he always enquires very kindly after you.
I think it probable I may not have the opportunity of writing to you by the following packet; you must not therefore imagine I have not thought of you if you do not receive any letter, but you must feel assured that I write with great pleasure to you whenever I can. I hope you feel equal pleasure in writing to me - it is this feeling alone that can make you write good letters. I can easily discover from the style of your letter whether it has been written cheerfully and because you desired to have the opportunity of letting me know what you were doing. In a few more months I shall probably be looking forward to the happiness of embracing you, though as yet I have no idea when that pleasure may come. I am inclined to think it will be before Christmas next, you shall however be informed as soon as I learn the probable time of my return to England. Think what a gratification it will be to me to find you improved in knowledge and manner, and let this thought prompt you to pay very great attention to your studies and to your manner. I shall care but little about your not having grown, If I have the happiness of seeing you a mild, affectionate, tractable little girl. You appear to have providentially escaped the severe attacks of the diseases which have visited your Aunt and Cousins at different times, and I hope you are always thankful to the Almighty for his goodness in sparing you from these afflictions. Gratitude to God is due from every person but particularly from you who was so very delicate in your infancy and who are now through his blessing, restored to perfect health. I have written a long letter to your Cousin Catherine from whom I have not heard since she went to live at Aspley. I think perhaps that she is too shy to write unless she were particularly requested to do so. Her Uncle & Aunt have not thought of reminding her as Mrs Gordon did. She Catherine writes a very sensible letter and I shall be very glad when you are able to express all your thoughts and ideas as well as she does. This can only come from practice, you must therefore continue to write to me even after my return that you may have practice. This is St Johns day, and as it is the particular Saint of this Island and of the order of the Knights of Jerusalem who were formerly the proprietors of Malta, the day is observed as a great feast. All the shops are closed and all the people are dressed in their best clothes, the churches are highly decorated and last night they were illuminated. These were also Bonfires made in many of the streets. The Catholics you may have heard differ from our church in paying a kind of worship to the Saints, though they deny that is in any degree the same as they pay to God & our Saviour or to the Virgin Mary. They keep as a Feast the days of the Saints whose name they bear as a mark of respect. We regard certain days in remembrance of the Apostles and of the inspired disciples of our Saviour, whose examples we should humbly endeavour to follow.
I do not remember that I have anything to write to your Aunt exclusively, this letter therefore will be entirely sent to you, but I leave you the pleasure of assuring your Aunt and Cousins of my most affectionate love. Your Aunt Betsey wrote to me by the last packet; she was then in London on her way to Lincolnshire, where I trust she is now comfortably settled. She has been a great sufferer, and it is delightful to see how grateful she is to God, for the many comforts he has bestowed upon her, and there is none she values more highly <than> that in her affliction she has found so many and such dear Friends. She is a most amiable person and really deserves the kindness she has received. She herself has been kind to every branch of her family and to none more than to yourself. You must therefore love her and pray for her as I hope you do for all your dear relations and especially for your Aunt and Cousins who have so affectionately watched over your infant years and now continue their love for you. Pray also for Mama and me.
Believe me ever your most affectionate Parent
John Franklin
The vessel has not yet returned that took Mama to Athens, I have not therefore heard from her.
27th June
Addressed to: Mrs Cracroft, 4 Kelsey Cottages, Tonbridge Wells
Postmark “L JY 22 1833” |