| Description | Writing in haste. The twins' birthday is the 24 May: Mama has not returned, Sophy will be doing the honours. The house is being prepared for the ball: Captains Ross and Crozier are in Hobart, arriving from the Antarctic. Eleanor is awaiting news of Catherine's expedition to Germany. A play has been on at the theatre in Hobart called 'Antarctic Expeditions'. The two captains and Sir John and Lady Franklin are characterised along with Eleanor and Sophy. Characterisation is praised for its likeness in people enjoying wine, but disimilarity includes the Sir John character having a 'full head of hair'. A new addition to the cousins, James Franklin Price. Eleanor teaches 'a native girl' called Methinna [Mathinna], who interrupts her every few minutes to show her work. |
| Transcript or Index | Government House Hobart 22nd May 1841
My dearest Catherine
As I hear there will not be
another opportunity of writing to England for some
I think it best to write at once, although I shall
not have much time. I wrote for you and sent you
some seeds by Miss Graham who sailed from here
in February last, so that I hope in the course
of a few weeks you will have received them
there were not many, but they were all I had
been able to collect. I hope they will grow, and
that you will be pleased with them.
The day after tomorrow is the Queen’s burithday, and
Mama has not returned yet. Sophy will have
to do the honours. We are now living by lamplight,
all the rooms on the ground floor except the
drawing room being blocked up and darkened
in preparation for the ball.
We have not yet heard from mama, but we have
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Heard of her, and are authorized to expect
her daily. There seems now little chance of her
arriving before the ball. The inhabitants of Port
Nicholson in New Zealand presented her with
an address, the absurdity of which you may possibly
have an opportunity of seeing, a Papa is going
to send a copy of it to Aunt Simpkinson.
I am quite surprised that I have not yet received from
you any account of your German expedition, but suppose
it will all come in good time if not you do
not deserve any more letters from me.
Captains Ross and Crozier have returned from the
Pole. You will probably have heard an account of
their discoveries before this letter reaches you, so that
it is needless for me to repeat it. The officers give
a ball on board the ships on the 8th June, soon
after they will quit this place for Sydney and
New Zealand after which they will turn to
the south, and if possible winter there. You may
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imagine that is a great pleasure to Papa to have
them here again. A short time ago, a play was
acted at the tehater here, called the “Antarctic
Expeditions” Captains Ross and Crozier and some
of the officers and crew, with Sir John and
Lady Franklin were the characters. One of the
scenes was the taking leave at Government
House previous to their expedition’s departure, in
which her Ladyship proposed to drink a bumper
of wine with Captain Ross, and this highly
characteristic act she is said to have
performed admirably. Two other ladies, said
to have been meant for Sophy and myself were
also not slow to fill their glasses. We of course
did not go to this grand performance, as Papa
does not encourage the theatre, but it is said
to have been ridiculous in the extreme, from its
extreme dissimilarity. Sir John Franklin for
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instance had a head full of hair!
I have not yet told you of the birth of another
Little cousin in the shape of James Franklin
Price, or according to the highest authority
Jemmy Button. He is a fine fat little fellow
just two months old. His Mama and Fredy, or
Bobadil as he is called are quite well.
Sophy has not been well lately, but is now better
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and I may say the same of your humble servant, who
is now quite well. We have all had colds. The weather is
now exceedingly sharp, but very fine.
We like the Henslowes very much, I think it is probable
they will altogether remain with us now. She is exceedingly
delicate but a very nice person. I see a great deal of her
as she and I dine early together.
And now I think I must draw my letter to a conclusion
as my little pupil Methinna (a native girl) is waiting for
her lesson, and every few minutes interrupting me to shew
me her work, and also it is getting near my walking time.
I wish you could join me on my solitary walks. When
shall we meet again! How does Willy get on with Euclid
and Algebra? In a few days I shall be seventeen. Can you
imagine me so old. I am still very short.
Believe me your affectionate Cousin Eleanor I Franklin. Excuse all defects. |