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Archive Reference / Library Class No.D8760/F/FEG/1/25/4
Former ReferenceD3287/31/7/1-2
TitleLetter from Mary Price to her cousin Eleanor Isabella Franklin, on assorted family news, including on the death of Tom Cracroft and on a recent action brought against Sophy Cracroft [possibly for slander]
Date15-16 Nov 1848
Extent2 sheets
LevelItem
RepositoryDerbyshire Record Office
SenderMary Price
Sender LocationNorfolk Island
RecipientEleanor Isabella Franklin
Recipient LocationNo address
Archive CreatorEleanor Isabella Franklin, later Eleanor Gell (1824-1860)
Gell family of Hopton Hall, Wirksworth
CopiesA digital copy of this item can be viewed on the public computers at the record office.
Transcript or IndexNorfolk Island November 15th, 1848
My dear Eleanor
I am sorry to hear no letter of mine has been received by you, since the one I wrote to apprize you of dear Tom’s death, but you have been such a wanderer since you left V.D Land, that I am not at all surprised that no news from me has reached you. As far as I recollect I have writtten you two letters since I have been in Norfolk Island. One of these I foolishly enclosed in a box directed to you or my Aunt (I do not exactly remember to whom) and entrusted to the care of Dr Browning who went home with you in the Rajah. Dr Browning came here to remove the probation prisoners; when the establishment here was reduced about 18 months ago. The box contained as far as I recollect a tolerable collection of N.I. ferns dried on cartridge paper for you & a pair of candlesticks made of the island wood & a bottle of cayenne pepper of our own growth & manufacturing – for my Aunt, a few South Sea Island curiosities for Uncle Booth, & a picture which had belonged to Tom Cracroft to be returned to Sophy. We like Norfolk Island still very well, I like it as a residence better now, than I did at first for the climate tried me much, but now I have become accustomed to it & my health is greatly improved, but however I still prefer a colder climate than this.
You may probably have heard by this time that we have a third daughter; so that now, our family is composed of six children, my youngest is a year old and a darling little creature, dark eyed has dark curling hair. She is a lively little morsel and a great favourite in the house especially with her brothers. My second daughter often puts me in mind of Emma Cracroft. She is very fair and delicate looking & very gentle & tractable.
November 16th 1848 Since writing the above I have received part of the letter you sent in William Kay’s box. Mrs Kay put your letter in a box of clothing she was sending me down, but my unfortunate box met with an accident on its way hither, the prisoners broke it open & treated the contents of it rather unceremoniously after some search the best part of my finery was recovered in rather a soiled condition, but I cannot get any tidings of the remainder of your letter which annoys me a great deal more than the soiling of my goods and chattels.
I cannot think why Miss [?]Resny brings an action against Sophy as she appeared to be satisfied with Sophy’s apologetic letter. I believe it was satisfactorily shown that she came free to the colony. I am surprised she did not bring an action against the originator of this report, instead of against Sophy who could not possibly have invented it. If she thought Sophy to be the cause of her misfortunes why did she not attack the latter while she was at Port Phillip as Mr W had then denied having spread this report & not allow an interval of four years to elapse before taking the steps she did. I trust Sophy will refuse to pay any money until she refers the case back to V.D Land for it seems to me she has been made the scapegoat for others. Could not Mr Leicester be of some assistance to her in her dilemma.
Your letters & my Aunt’s did not raise my spirits with regard to my Uncle. I own I have great anxiety on his behalf & I anxiously look forward to the next ship trusting I may get better news on a subject so near to my heart. Should the expedition have met with a disaster every thing that could be devised has been done to relieve them & for the result we must trust to Him from whom our joys and sorrows flow. I cannot speak more upon this subject. I shall therefore now proceed to some account of ourselves. I think we are settled here for some time to come; although we have not had any definite news respecting the keeping up of this establishment. I fancy it could not be done away with without causing great inconvenience to the Australian colonies who would not know what to do with their second convicted men.
I begin to think we are fortunate in being so far out of the way of the turmoils of Europe. There seems to be nothing but war & rumours of war. I trust England may be able to keep in peace with her neighbours.
We have had an offer of a presentation to Leamington College in England for Freddy, but we have declined letting him go home as yet; for we consider him too young to leave us & as our prospects are not yet decided, it is as well he should remain especially as he is not loosing his time – Had he gone home he would have been under the care of his Uncle & Aunt Higgins and their house would have been his home during the vacations. Although Mr and Mrs Higgins’ offer was very kind to take care of hm while in England, I feel almost glad that it is decided he does not go, for it would have been a sad trial to me to have parted with him at his present age.
You do not give me much news about the family. Of Emma you do not say a word. I hope she is well. Have you ever been able to give her the books I sent with you.
You never mention Miss Williamson, have you any idea what has become of her since your arrival in Europe,
I have a particular request to make of you. Should you at any time go into Lincolnshire to visit our relatives there will you send me a copy of watt [sic] is written on the tablet erected to my Father’s memory in Spilsby church & also if you have an opportunity will you visit his tomb in St John’s wood churchyard. We expected Mr Simpkinson down here by this vessel but he has disappointed us.
Henry writes to us sometimes bu my chief correspondant in Hobart town is Mrs William Kay, whom I like very much. I think both brothers have a made a happy choice in their wives. Old Mrs Bedford is still alive, she was very kind to me while I was in Hobart town.
I must now conclude my scrawl as I have drawn it out to an unusual length.
Give my love to Lady Simpkinson &d to Louisa if they still recollect me. If you should see Anne Weld give my kind remembrances to her. Freddy sends his love to you for he still remembers you. Many thanks for the book you had the kindness to send him. You must excuse my bad writing for I am obliged to write in the midst of so many interruptions that I hardly know what I am saying at times.
With out united love believe me
Ever yrs. affectionate cousin
M Price.
Hepburn is still at Port Arthur, but I fear that in the midst of all these reductions he will not long retain his situation. I trust something will be found for him if he does loose it. I have not seen anything of the good old man since you left V.D Land.
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