| Description | She was meant to have sent Mr Finch's letter, but her sister wanted to see it, so it has been left with her; she encloses a letter for a friend at Berne to be used as a letter of introduction to M. Zeerleder, a valuable acquaintance. She has seen so little from him in the last 12 months, but it would be unjust for their long friendship if she withheld the confidence that she was uniting herself with Captain Franklin, fulfulling what would have been her father's most earnest wish with regard to her, "the noncompletion of which, was indeed his greatest anxiety in the later months of his life"; she feels that it is, in some respects, an odd choice, but she has the strongest reliance on his character and regard for her; she is sure that when Elliott gets to know him, they must be friends; she trusts they will be in 55 Devonshire Street, where by a strange coincidence she was born, after a search of three months. She wonders whether his muse is in condition to write an epithalamium "Our promise was mutual - was it not? and pray what are you about that your Romance is not finished. I little thought to have been the one to claim said promise, but I think you might find it a tolerably good subject" After writing so long about Coeur de Lion, she has captured a Lion's heart: when the "Arctic Expeditions" fall in her way, she cannot help laughing at the jokes made on her when they were published; Elliott has never given her critique on Richard, so she now expects one on the Captain's work as well, not that she saw a line until it was published. Her best regards to his circle. If all matters go as planned and she does not fall ill again, they shall return around the same time he will. If he has anything worth communicating on his tour, she will be happy to hear from him |
| Transcript or Index | 6 Upper Portland Place
July 21 1823
Dear Sir,
I meant to have sent you back Mr Finch’s letter, but as my sister wishes to see it, I will leave it with her, and beg you to reclaim it there, if you return to London <before me.> I enclose one for a friend at Berne. Should it suit you to present it as a letter of introduction, you will find M. Zeerleder a valuable acquaintance, and if you do not visit that part of Switzerland this time, pray just poke it into the Post at any convenient point.
I have seen so little of you for the last twelve months, that I feel it as difficult to enter into any thing like confidential communication, as it would be unjust to our long friendship to withhold it. But indeed I believe I have no secret to tell for by some strange and unfathomable means it got wind in spite of every precaution. In uniting myself with Captain Franklin I believe I am fulfilling what would have been my father’s most earnest wish with regard to me, and the noncompletion of which, was indeed his greatest anxiety in the later months of his life. I sometimes feel as if I had in some respects, made an odd <choice> and at this moment I have naturally, all the dangers and perils of such a change arrayed in all their force before me, but on the other hand, I have the strongest reliance on the worth of his character and his regard for me. I have at least proved that the latter only derived strength from time, and distance and suffering. That I shall have your good wishes I am certain, and I have no doubt that when you and he come to be really known to each other, you must be friends < though his extreme shyness makes him appear to disadvantage.> When you see me next month, I trust it will be in No. 55 Devonshire Street, the house in which I was born, and which by a strange coincidence has been fixed upon after a search of three months in various quarters, and where I am sure you will always be welcome.
When matters are so near a serious conclusion, I find as I have often heard said, that even as to those who ascend some lofty mountain, all lesser things shrink into utter insignificance. Yet even now, I cannot help asking whether your muse be in condition for an epithalamium. Our promise was mutual, was it not? and pray what are you about that <your> Romance is not finished. I little thought to have been the one to claim said promise, but I think you might find it a tolerably good subject. After writing so long about Coeur de Lion, I have contrived to catch hold of a Lion’s heart, have I not? when the “Arctic Expeditions”, fall in my way now, I cannot help laughing at the jokes which were cut upon me when they were published. By the bye, you have never given me your critique on Richard, so I shall now expect one on the Captain’s work as well. Not that I saw a line of that till it was published.
My best regards to all your circle. If all matters go as they are planned, & I do not fall ill again to disconcert them we shall about return when you do
ever your sincere friend
Eleanor Anne Porden.
Should any thing occur on your tour which you think worth communicating, remember that I shall always be happy to hear from you. |