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Archive Reference / Library Class No.D8760/F/FEP/1/1/9
Former ReferenceD3311/8/3/11
TitleLetter from John Franklin to Eleanor Anne Porden, during his visit to family in Lincolnshire, including a description of the Franklin family, who know of Eleanor's work and are pleased at the couple's intimacy
Date16 May 1823
DescriptionRejoiced at hearing that Eleanor's health is improving. John's own health has been restored. Eleanor is mistaken in thinking that John's family have not heard of her and her work. They are delighted with the couple's intimacy. Will endeavour to give some account of them. Father is old and suffering blindness and deafness. His family now consists of seven persons: two brothers (in India), and four sisters. They will all be happy to receive Eleanor as John's wife. Two other brothers in law Sellwood, being one, but his sisters (their wives) are dead. John is now going to the sea coast. Would be glad to hear about Eleanor's relations in her next letter.
Extent1 sheet
LevelItem
RepositoryDerbyshire Record Office
SenderJohn Franklin
Sender LocationBolingbroke [Lincolnshire]
RecipientEleanor Anne Porden
Archive CreatorEleanor Anne Porden, later Eleanor Franklin (1795-1825)
Gell family of Hopton Hall, Wirksworth
AppraisalUpper Portland Place
Transcript or IndexBolingbroke
May 16th 1823

My dearest friend,
I had just sealed my last letter, when your very interesting “magnanimous” communication arrived and as the mail was expected to pass very soon I could not reopen mine to inform you that yours had reached me. I was truly rejoiced <to find> such evident symptoms of returning health and spirits as your letter displayed; and I can now have no doubt, but your improvement will be progressive providing you have learnt the necessity of carefully nursing yourself, and do not presume too much on your present strength. My own health is quite restored, and in spite of the Fen Breezes which have blown ever since we have been here, I have parted with every symptom of cough and cold. I perceive you have taken your notions of Lincolnshire from popular report, and that of no recent date. I forgive you however as you profess not to have read <of> anything which bears a more recent date than the restoration.
My friends Dr and Mrs R. had entertained the same opinion of our poor county, before they visited it, but now their tone is entirely changed, and I think yours will follow the same course, when I have the happiness of shewing you the (?)hons. We have some things in this vicinity of sufficient antiquity as to be <even> worthy of your attention.
You are mistaken my dear friend in supposing the members of my family are ignorant of Miss Porden’s existence; they have known you for some time from your literary productions, and have been made acquainted within these few days of our intimacy. I can assure you <that> no communication could have given them more sincere pleasure and I am certain they would <have> individually desired me to give you an assurance of that fact did they know I was writing to you. I should certainly ask you to find room in your heart for each of my relations, or at least to keep a corner vacant for them, and I should trust after you are known to them they would for their own sakes be cheerfully admitted to fill up the space. That you may know how large a portion to keep unoccupied I will give you some account of them. My father as I have already told you is very old, supporting the infirmities of blindness and deafness with a truly Christian calmness and resignation. His family now consists of seven persons – my two Brothers who are in India, and four daughters. My eldest Sister is unmarried, having been for the greater part of her life an invalid, and she is now only in a state of convalescence, after a severe illness. She will I hope be quite restored to health by the time we can visit Lincolnshire, and I am sure no person will more gladly and cheerfully welcome you as my wife. My othe[r] sisters are married and have each some charm[ing] little girls and boys who are my playfellows and will be delighted to receive a new aunt into their society. Of the occupations which my Brothers in law follow, Mr Booth and Mr Cracroft each farm a large portion of land. Mr Wright is a Clergyman. I have also two other Brothers in law but my sisters are dead, the one Mr Sellwood is a Solicitor and lives near here; the other lives in London – the former has three daughters, and the other three sons. This is the state of my family. You will find them all I think mild and amicable and I am sure affectionate. Nothing will afford them more gratification than to welcome you among them. I should now be glad to learn of your relatives, if you do not find any other subject to occupy your next letter. You are however never at a loss. I am glad you have ventured upon looking at two houses. I shall hope to hear soon of your having determined upon one. I am now going down to Mrs Booths who resides on the Sea Coast, and out of the way of the direct post road, but I will send up in the course of the week. Pray write when you receive this. I am sorry to hear the account of their sickness in Gower Street surely the finer weather will bring them round; remember my kindest regards to them. I am sorry for the kind widow of whom you speak. She would be too careful of me by half. I durst not venture upon being exposed to her unceasing attentions.
Your ever affectionate friend
John Franklin.

To Miss Porden
Miss Appletons
Upper Portland Place
London.
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