| Recipient Location | At Mr R. Kay's, 10 Wellington Square, Hastings |
| Transcript or Index | My dear Miss Porden,
I thank you most sincerely for the relief your letter has given to my anxious mind, by the kind and candid explanation it contains of your sentiments respecting me. I am truly gratified by them and be assured it will be my earnest endeavour when I have the happiness of seeing you again to avoid shewing the appearance of anxiety and uncertainty which threw a shade over our last interview.
I deeply regret that any appearance of coldness on my part should have checked the familiar conversation which I had so much desired, but I trust you will attribute the shade on my countenance to the painful apprehension I entertained as to the probability of your ultimate determination.
I could not have imagined that any distrust of me occupied your mind, after the kind expressions you used, nor should I have fancied that my manner at parting from you, conveyed any displeasure had you not supposed it, particularly as I felt and expressed myself perfectly satisfied with the reasons you had assigned for the delay in giving an answer to my proposal.
A few moments reflection after my return home convinced me of the indecorum of my having requested you to write to me first from Hastings, and I determined on enquiring for your address of Mrs Kay, that I might commence, and therefore I feel grateful for your having afforded me the opportunity of corresponding, and for the confidence you have reposed in me by leaving to my choice the channel of conveyance. I prefer the more direct means, and therefore shall send this by post.
I cannot my dear friend imagine that I have mistaken your character, certainly, I do not perceive any change in either your disposition or sentiments since I had the happiness of being first known to you.
The same excellent judgement, amiable dis[?position …] and peculiar affability of manner which firs[t ....] my admiration appear to me to mark as decisively as ever your character.
As the period of your return is yet distant I hope you will do me the happiness of writing as often as you may choose, and you may rely on m[y] punctuality in answering your letters – If yo[u] would do me the favour to convey – what you ha[ve] more to say, which your hurry at the last time you wrote prevented you from communicating to me. I shall be sincerely obliged.
Many thanks for your good wishes respecting my book, it is a sad plague to me, and keeps my mind more on the rack than it perhaps would be under other circumstance. I propose calling upon Mrs Kay on Sunday.
Believe me
My dear Miss Porden
Yours most affectionately
John Franklin
60 Frith Street
December 5th Midnight.
To
Miss Porden
at Mr. R. Kay’s
10 Wellington Square
Hastings |