Address:
M^rs Flinders
Vicarage House
      Chobham
near Bagshot
        Surry

              Mavis Enderby December 5 [1815]

My dear Friend

      A long absence on a visit to Friskney prevented
me from receiving your very gratifying letter until the
other day – Your letter to M^r Barrow was so perfectly
satisfactory and complete that I felt on the perusal, most
highly gratified and honoured ^ ^too at having the Sentiments
of my departed Friend respecting me so ably and handsomely
expreƒsed to a Person whose knowledge of them it
was to eƒsentially neceƒsary to be aƒsured of – I cannot
M^rs Flinders sufficiently thank you or convey the obligation
I feel on the which believe me is much increased when
I consider the terms of your acquaintance were scarcely
such, as to warrant your addreƒsing him – and indeed
could I feel regret, when such favourable testimonies
of my profeƒsional line are conveyed to the notice of him
on whom my expectations may be supposed very
materially to rest – it would be that the circumstance
caused you my Friend any Sacrifice of feeling – or the
slightest uneasineƒs – I hope and trust you understood
my meaning when the request was made – that I by no
means should wish you to write if the task was painful

or very inconvenient – and I think you deserve the justice
to believe no personal consideration would induce
me to ask any Friend of mine to sacrifice either
in their Interest for me – The desire I have to arise
in my Profeƒsion which is uppermost in my thoughts
hopes and wish, (and which you I think will say is
most laudable) may prompt me, and does perhaps
to urge my Friends with ^ ^more application than any other
personal consideration could poƒsibly do – but this
earnestneƒs and feeling will rather be approved
than condemned by all who are my sincere Friends
I should suppose – and as many very many events
have proved the warmth and sincerity of your Friendship
I should not I think make any other apology for the
call I have made on your attention

    I am not at all disappointed or diƒsatisfied with M^r
Barrow's answer; two aƒsurances are gained – first
the certainty of Sir Joseph's application in my favour
and secondly that the appointments to the Congo expedition
are filled up – nor do I think put an unfavourable
construction on his promise – he says if M^r Franklin
"can be advantageously employed" – this was a point on which
I insisted in my conversation with M^r Brown, and I am inclined
from M^r Barrow's answer to you ^ ^{& think} that M^r Brown has had

conversation with M^r Barrow about me and stated this
to be my sentiment – I understood from Sir Joseph
other expeditions were in agitation though not as yet
under arrangement – I may perhaps have some appointment
therein if they should come forward – whether or not
any such appointment may result from the several
applications to M^r Barrow (which I have reason to suppose
have been through four different channels) I shall ever congratulate
myself on the conviction that no effort of either
mine or my Friends has been wanting to draw forth
his notice and consideration to my services and
on the consciousneƒs of having offered for any employment
or occupation however hazardous or unpleasant that
could poƒsibly lead to my Profeƒsional Advancement.
    I leave the space below for my sister Betsey she
will detail the news. I beg my best respects
and regards to M^rs and Miƒs Tyler – and very sincere wishes
for the health and happineƒs of my little Friend Anne
          Beleive [sic] me with great esteem
          to be truly your Friend
                John Franklin

[There follows news from Elizabeth Franklin – crammed into every available space on the letter, including the side folds of the address and above Franklin's opening remarks. Shown here as one entry]

My Dear Friend
I wish my Dear Johnny had spared
me a tiny bit more of his sheet of paper as I
wanted to tell you how my visit to Horncastle paƒsed off — first allow
me to thank you for the kind Interest you take in forwarding
& aƒsisting the views of me & my Family which – believe me I feel
with all the warmth of Friendship – I must from neceƒsity you know be
laconic or I could if I suffered my Heart to dictate to the Pen to fill
up this sheet of paper with fond different Sentiments than [illegible]
is included in the article of News – I think I have made you acquainted with
with M^r Rawnsley the Spilsby Vicar – he was {invited} to the object of M^r [illegible]
last Thursday Fortnight – immediately after the Ceremony the happy Pair set off
for Skegneƒs – alone – to {keep} the Honey Moon. I believe, as they
are not yet returned Home – tis a [illegible] plan you will say –
it occasions some Degree of Mirth in the Neighbourhood I aƒsure
particularly amongst the young Men – I hope [illegible] you have received
a [illegible] of something which was sent from Spilsby last Monday
I could not tell exactly the Day it was to be sent from thence and
I therefore did not apprize [sic] you of it at a proper time. I wrote you a confus-
-ing Letter about it from Horncastle it was written at the time M^r [illegible]
was reading aloud to {Sarah} so of course there could not be much connection.
M^rs Gilliots Health is now tolerably good – & she I dare say is as happy as she has
for years. I spent a week with her – & the same time with the
{Tellwoods} who are also tolerably well all things considered – Ladies cannot,
always be well you know – & for this one unluckily that thinks herself extremely Consumptive – we had a large Party there consisting of Gentlemen of M^r Gilliots
We had a large one to Tea & Supper made up of [illegible] Lowƒsetts – Whitworths (who
by the bye are now living in Robert [illegible] house) – M^rs Gilliot – Johnny Gilliot
from Donington the {Tellwoods} & [illegible] – at the [illegible] we had the same Party with the
addition of James Connington – & at M^r Whitworths last Friday Evening – the same
a more Stylish Supper in the Country I never sat down to other than the one the
Whitworths gave – we there had a Dance – John & Augustus Booth were of the Party
on Saturday I came Home with them & am now going to domesticate {for the}
Winter – in the Spring if all things can be brought about agreeable to my
wishes I may perhaps be in a different part of the World – Willingham
will I hope so arrange matters as to furnish me with the needful
if I go, it will be with General Browns Daughters not as a Governeƒs &c
but as a Friend & with them at Calcutta I shall remain until James can receive me
I have not began to make preparations – tho the affair is planned & may be considered
as what is likely to take Place by the Browns – & their own family but there are
a few impediments as you may suppose to contend with & on that account
the affair is wished to be kept a secret of whether I go or not
and should not wish it to be known by any but my Family & you – I have not a
sentiment told Rachel she has a Husband you know – before the arrival of
the Spring. I mean to inform her, let the matter end as it will, as she
knows I have something in my Head but does not know what – Have you
heard the particulars of M^r Chambers failure? I am happy to say my Aunt
& Cousin bear the shock better than we expected they would – My Mother & [illegible]
&c &c are well & write in respects to M^rs & Miƒs Tyler – & Love to your little Ann with your
affectionate Friend Elizabeth
Henrietta is going to visit at {Edington} next week – do not speak of the India business
in your next {letter}