Record

D8760 - Gell family of Hopton Hall, Wirksworth - 1714-1994
- F - Family records of the extended Franklin family and the Gell family of Hopton Hall - 1714-1994
  - FEG - Records of Eleanor Isabella Gell nee Franklin, daughter of Sir John and Eleanor Franklin and wife of Reverend John Philip Gell - 1828-[early 20th cent]
    - 1 - Correspondence of Eleanor Isabella Gell nee Franklin - 1828-1859
      - 1 - Letters from Sir John Franklin to his daughter Eleanor Isabella Franklin - 1831-1845

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Archive Reference / Library Class No.	D8760/F/FEG/1/1/9
Former Reference	D3287/31/8
Title	Letter from Sir John Franklin to his daughter Eleanor Isabella Franklin, including references to their travelling to Brighton to help cure his wife's headaches
Date	10 Mar 1835
Description	Neither he nor her Mama have heard from Eleanor or the Cracroft family for a long time. he was uneasy until he heard from Captain Saumarez that he had seen them all well a short time before. He hopes to hear she still likes Guernsey, which is better for her and her cousins' health. He wants to hear what she thinks of the storms. He and her Mama are going to Hastings for a few weeks, as she has suffered from pains in the head caused partly by the smoky atmosphere in London. They will be going with Mrs Herring. Mama has not written, as writing causes pain in her head. Aunt Betsey is unwell but suffers with Christian humility; Aunt Margaret has a severe cold; cousins Mary and Emma are well, the latter being entertaining, now able to speak most words; he has had good accounts of cousins at Chatham and Friskney, and Mary Richardson will soon be confined. he is only writing to her, but he trusts her to let others see the letter. He wants to hear how all her studies are going.
Extent	1 sheet
Level	Item
Repository	Derbyshire Record Office
Sender	John Franklin
Sender Location	21 Bedford Place [London]
Recipient	Eleanor Isabella Franklin
Recipient Location	Mr Cracroft's, Guernsey
Archive Creator	Eleanor Isabella Franklin, later Eleanor Gell (1824-1860)
Archive Creator	Gell family of Hopton Hall, Wirksworth
Transcript or Index	21 Bedford Place 10th March 1835 My dearest Child It is a very long time since either your Mama or I heard from you, or from any of the family, and we are at a loss to account for this long silence. I wrote to your Aunt more than a month since, but have not learnt whether the letter reached her. The postage was paid at Castle Hedingham and the letter was addressed to Mrs Cracroft in the Street near Paynes Hotel, because I do not remember the name of the street in which your present house is. Your Aunt Margaret told me that she had heard through the Sellwoods of your Aunt having been unwell, and I imagined this was a sufficient reason for her not visiting, but none for Sophy or Isabella or Tom not letting me know that circumstance. I have therefore been uneasy in consequence of this report till I met Capt. Saumarez at the Drawing Room, who told me he had seen you all quite well a short time before. I am very anxious to learn how you all employ your time, and of the progress Tom is making, and whether you continue to like Guernsey as much as you did. I am almost certain that the climate will suit you my dear and your cousins better than that of Tonbridge Wells. I hope however that you have been well sheltered from the boisterous winds we have had this winter. These must have produced a heavy sea near the shores of your Island and a fine effect from the water breaking over the rocks. You should write to me and tell me what has made the greatest impression on your mind relative to these storms. While we are at a distance from each other we can only be informed of what each has been doing or learning by writing; we should therefore not neglect giving me this information respecting yourself. Your Mama and I are going down to Hastings for a few weeks, on account of her having suffered a good deal from pains in the head which is in part owing to the thick and smoky atmosphere of London. Hastings is a warm place which she now requires. Mrs Herring will go with us I believe and we therefore hope to pass a comfortable time. We shall probably go there in ten days time, but as we know not what our address may be you must continue to write to Bedford Place. Your Mama felt herself much better when at Kedingham, but has not been so well since we came back to town. Writing increases the pain [in] her head and therefore she seldom writes letters. She desires me to remember her best love and to tell you that she is looking forward with great pleasure to the time when she is to visit you & your Aunt in June. By which time I trust she will have got entirely recovered from her indisposition, and will be able to enjoy the walks and drives about the Island <with> which you will be able to make her acquainted. I suppose you have heard that your Aunt Betsey has been very unwell and still suffers severely, but she bears her trial with truly Christian humility. I was anxious to go down to see her, but as her lodging is small she wishes me to postpone my visit. Your Aunt Margaret has had a severe cold and still has a bad cough, which I trust will soon yield with medical care, and the advance of a milder season. Cousin Mary and Emma are quite well, the latter begins to be entertaining as she now can speak most words. I have become very good accounts of your youngest cousins at Chatham & Friskney, I saw Dr Richardson the other day who informed <me> that Mary was tolerably well expecting soon to be confined. Her freind Miss Morris is staying with her - we shall probably go to Chatham on our way to Hastings though it is not in the direct road. I have written this letter entirely to you and must therefore trust to your letting your Aunt and cousins see its contents, and pray beg one of them to write to me very soon, for I really feel that I am altogether ignorant about your present feelings and pursuits. I am particularly anxious to know what Tom is doing. I suppose you are now making progress in French and Music – tell me in fact what you read, and the whole of your studies. Your Aunt Kay & family have been at Hastings the greater part of the winter. Accept the affectionate love of your Mama with more for yourself, Aunt & family and believe me ever your most affectionate Father John Franklin. [Addressed to] Miss E.I. Franklin at Mr Cracrofts, Guernsey]

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