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
  - FEP - Records of Eleanor Anne Porden, first wife of Sir John Franklin - 1800-1828
    - 1 - Correspondence of Eleanor Anne Porden - 1800-1825
      - 1 - Letters from John Franklin to Eleanor Anne Porden, later his wife - 1822-1825

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Archive Reference / Library Class No.	D8760/F/FEP/1/1/16
Former Reference	D3311/8/3/24
Title	Letter from John Franklin to Eleanor Anne Porden, during his visit to family relations in Nottingham, including on his lack of desire to write , the funeral of Mrs Bunside's brother and on the end of her anxieties about Berners Street
Date	16 Jun 1823
Description	Disappointed that the letter he sent from Matlock did not reach Eleanor on the day of her departure. His desire to write does not increase with practice. Where he enjoyed writing before he now finds it irksome. He hopes for some change in these sentiments. Family of friend want him to attend funeral on Wedneday as a mourner. He will stay until Mrs Burnside has overcome the shock of her brother's burial. Glad that Eleanor's anxieties regarding Berners Street are at an end.
Extent	1 sheet
Level	Item
Repository	Derbyshire Record Office
Sender	John Franklin
Sender Location	Nottingham
Recipient	Eleanor Anne Porden
Recipient Location	Upper Portland Place, London
Archive Creator	Eleanor Anne Porden, later Eleanor Franklin (1795-1825)
Archive Creator	Gell family of Hopton Hall, Wirksworth
Transcript or Index	Monday June 16th Nottingham [in pencil, in later hand] 1823 My dear Eleanor When I received your letter on Saturday I was just on the point of setting out with the Brother of my deceased friend to pass the Sunday at his house about four miles distant from Nottingham. We return to the Town this morning, and I am writing before the party come down to breakfast, that I may be prepared for this days post. You seem much disappointed at not receiving <a> letter from me on the morning of your departure from London and so am I, as I had imagined the one I wrote from Matlock should have reached you <on that day>. It however like the rest of my letters could afford you but little amusement I fear, for as you perceive my forte does not lie in epistolary composition, and contrary to what you have predicted I do not find my desire to write increases with the practice. I feel all the inclination to impart to you the various impressions which I receive in my different rambles, <and particularly when> in the midst of the enjoyment of them, but directly I am seated with my sheet of paper before me, all power ceases, and I become quite stupid. What can be the cause of this change? I am sure the sight of the objects have given great pleasure to me, and <when I <view them> I think, that this gratification will be increased by describing my sensations to my friends, but as I have before said I cannot do it on paper, and if my friend is not by my side, he loses all my wise remarks and reflections. I feel the same inability of expressing my sentiments by writing on other subjects, of which it appears to me I have a tolerably clear conception. I frequently think on points <respecting> which I am most desirous to communicate with you, but I never can bring myself to enter upon them when writing. They seem at these times to escape my memory altogether, often to return as soon as the letter has been put in the post. Formerly I took delight in correspondence with my friends, but now it is quite irksome for me to write at all. I sincerely hope I shall experience some change in my sentiments in this respect, for no man has a greater pleasure than myself in receiving letters from his friends, and it is so selfish to receive the gratification and not attempt at imparting it to others. The family are now come down to breakfast; and I find my present occupation will be a cause of delay, as the party have walked in to the garden until it is fin[?ished] The funeral of my friend takes place on Wednesday morning, and I have been particularly requested by the family to attend as a mourner. After this melancholy event is over, I shall have to wait some days until Mrs Burnside has recovered from the shock which the Interment of her Brother is calculated to make, before I can receive her instructions as to the letters she wishes me to write to India. I am very glad your fatigues and anxieties respecting Berners Street are so nearly at an end. Do not give yourself [?]uneasiness about my being absent. I shall get to town I hope by about the 25th of the month. The Breakfast is made and is waiting Believe me ever yours affectionately Jno. Franklin. PS. The party are preparing to go to Nottingham. I have not time to write more. My kindest respects in Gower Street. Mr Callaghan of whom you speak was very kind to me at Cambridge. To Miss Porden Upper Portland Place London [Post marks Nottingham JU16 1823 C 17 JU 17 1823]

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