| Recipient Location | Miss Appleton's, Upper Portland Place, London |
| Transcript or Index | [At top in hand of John Philip Gell]
[John Franklin to Eleanor Porden, whom he married, Aug 19,1823, relating to the death of Mr Burnside, Uncle of Lady Willingham Franklin. Dated, Matlock, where I was born, 10 Mar. 1816, at the Rectory, J.P. Gell.]
Matlock June 11th [1823]
My dear Eleanor,
Your letter was presented to me this morning shortly after I had arrived here from Nottingham and I am now seated at Eleven [?] PM to acknowledge its receipt though half asleep, having passed almost the whole of last night without sleeping, and been this day constantly employed either in travelling or walking. The post passes through this place at an early hour and I must finish the letter before I retire, but I hope you will excuse me if I am more brief than usual.
You will be shocked to learn that the Gentleman whose illness I mentioned in my last as the cause of my not proceeding to Matlock; died very unexpectedly, yesterday morning. He was the Brother of Mrs Burnside (Lady Franklin’s mother) and she had lived in an adjoining house to him for many years, and being in the habits of daily intercourse with him, you will therefore naturally suppose she is in deep affliction at the melancholy event. Her case indeed is much to be pitied, as she has only just recovered from the effects of the severe trial she had experienced in the loss of her two Grand Children, which my Brother and Sister had left under her charge on their going to India. I feel that it will be very desirable for me to remain with her for some days to afford whatever consolation and comfort I can. The family too wish me to attend the Funeral, <an attention> I feel it incumbent on me to pay to the memory of a person who was a very sincere and kind Friend to my Brother, and I may also add to myself. Tuesday next I believe is the day fixed for his internment <after> that <event> I shall be enabled to inform you when I may get to London, but cannot determine before.
I came hither to see the only remaining child of my Brother, that I might from personal observation inform him of her state of health in the letter I shall have to write to Madras communicating the death of their uncle. As the report respecting the child will be favourable I trust it will tend to alleviate the grief her parents would otherwise feel in the loss of their much esteemed and kind Friend. I return to Nottingham tomorrow and shall stay <there>, so that your letters must be addressed to that place.
Matlock is a delightful spot, and I have been wandering about the whole day, anxious to see as much of its scenery and interesting objects as I possibly could during my short stay. I commenced by visiting the Museum and the Baths, then climbed up to the Heights of Abraham – which fully p[....] me for dinner. This meal concluded, I penetrate[d] one of the Caverns to its termination a distance of 700 yards and afterwards took a survey of the Grand Tor, and its romantic Scenery. The description however of the beauties of this place must be deferred until we meet, as I can now scarcely keep my eyes open.
I cannot guess what causes should prevent you from remaining in your present lodging for the time you may require such an abode, but I entirely enter into your feelings respecting Gower Street and must further add that I should not be quite at home in visiting you there.
Believe me
Your ever affectionately
Jno. Franklin
Ma chère Amie,
Je suis bien aise que tout va bien – Je v[?ous] envoie ceci et vous embrasse
[?je ne su]is pas comme ci joint
To
Miss Porden
Miss Appleton’s
Upper Portland Place
London. |