FRANKLIN JOHN: (1786-1847) British Rear-Admiral and Arctic Explorer. Franklin was present at the Bat...

FRANKLIN JOHN: (1786-1847) British Rear-Admiral and Arctic Explorer. Franklin was present at the Bat...
FRANKLIN JOHN: (1786-1847) British Rear-Admiral and Arctic Explorer. Franklin was present at the Battle of Copenhagen (1801) and served on board HMS Bellerophon at the Battle of Trafalgar (1805). A very fine A.L., unsigned and incomplete, four pages (closely written text), 4to, H.M.S. Rainbow, Corfu, 12th September 1830, to 'My dear Children'. Franklin states that he had intended to reply to their letter of 30th May earlier, but was occupied in writing letters of business, praises their interest in the history books they have been reading, and recounts his friend, Captain Beaufort's, judgement of the Turks, which he believes to be very correct, 'In the Turkish character there is a striking contrast of good and bad qualities: though insatiably avaricious a Turk is always hospitable, and frequently generous…..the needy traveller is sure of receiving refreshment and sometimes even the honour of sharing his pipe: his religion binds him to supply his greatest enemy with bread and water; and on the public roads numerous khans where gratuitous lodging is given and fountains or cisterns for the benefit of thirsty travellers and their cattle have been constructed…..In this point of view the character of the modern Greeks would ill bear a comparison with that of their oppressors', also adding that Beaufort wrote of some Turks in a remote village, 'Though sufficiently shrewd in the sale of their cattle and fruit, they appeared to be very simple and ignorant, yet it was pleasing to observe these poor creatures with a manly independence that would do honour to more enlightened minds, kneel down on the sand at the appointed hour of prayer, and go through their prayers & prostrations without appearing to be in the least embarrassed by…..so many strangers'. Franklin further comments of his own experiences, 'The Turks you know are Fatalists as to religion and therefore believe everything must happen as it has been ordered by the First Great Creator and in consequence consider it useless to make any effort to avert evil or insure good…..even this day I witnessed an instance of similar indifference to awful events when I called on the principal Aidecamp of the Grand Vizir who is at present here. We having heard a few days ago that the Fort of Scutari which the Grand Vizir's Army has been attacking was thrown down by lightning & 600 persons killed under its ruins - I asked him whether the information was correct, he merely answered that he had heard of it, but did not know the extent of the injury and made no further comment - but passed on to some other subject of trifling importance…..his indifference arose solely from the habit of attributing everything to Fate…..We often see individual Turks here and have recently had a Turkish ship of war with a Seraskeen or Admiral on board who with his squadron have been for some time cooperating with the Army of the Grand Vizir in reducing the rebellious Chiefs of Albania, Thessaly & Epirus to subjection, indeed some of these subjects are yet within view on the opposite shores and they occasionally open fire on the inhabitants of the different Towns along the coast', continuing 'You are aware the present Sultan is a great reformist - he has introduced the European manner of exercise & fighting among his troops and…..has also caused their dress to be changed - so that now instead of the graceful Turban & flowing robe which distinguished the Turkish soldier, you see his soldiers & sailors attired in military jackets like our men…..It has even been reported that he has so far overcome old prejudices as to have taken his favourite Sultana & her daughter to some evening party……This is indeed the greatest innovation of all if true for you must have heard that the Turkish women are kept enclosed in their houses or walled gardens not to be seen by men except they be closely veiled' and also reports of his immediate surroundings, 'The Ionian Islands contain among their inhabitants people from nearly all the neighbouring countries and therefore you may imagine that there is a great variety of dresses to be seen…..They were originally Venetians and……afterwards became a Greek Colony & then Venetian and subsequently have been under the rule of Russia and France and last of all under the protection of England……All of them are very picturesque and now that good roads have been formed in them they form pleasant places of residences except for the Summer months when either the excessive heat or Malaria they become often unhealthy. This year has been an exception and there have been few cases of Fever. I have only visited Corfu & Zante. Willy who tells me he likes raisins notwithstanding the manner in which they are messed by the women & children in preparing them, would be quite delighted with the currants of Zante, the growth of which is their principal cultivation……Olives and the oil extracted from them are the principal articles of trade in Corfu - but these are grapes grown in abundance and some tobacco…..Corfu is only separated from the opposite Coast of Albania by a channel of 6 or 7 miles in width but we cannot have any intercourse with that shore for fear of being put into Quarantine…..for these places being frequented by people that come & go direct to & from Constantinople and other places where the plague is very frequent the people here are afraid of that pestilence being introduced into these Islands. If we were not in this way prevented I should have enjoyed making a Tour on the Albanian shore…..to see that parts where that Monster Ali Pacha committed his dreadful atrocities…..He was a very cruel bad man and richly deserved the death he afterwards met'. The final part of Franklin's letter, as it exists here, continues 'I think Willy has been misinformed about fine shells being procured at Malta….however….I am delighted to find he turns his attention to this or any subject of Natural History. Your Aunt has not yet joined me - she is at present making a Tour in Spain….She is looking forward to the pleasure of visiting many parts of the Mediterranean during my stay such as Greece - Athens, Alexandria, Smyrna and perhaps Constantinople which are not easy to be got at by Ladies and I sincerely hope the opportunity will be afforded her…..I will ask her to write to you occasionally when she has joined me which I think she will have pleasure in doing because she wishes equally with me to assist in cultivating the laudable desire for gaining information respecting other Countries which you my dear Catherine & Willy have shewn. I sincerely trust my dear little girl will have the same taste'. A letter of wonderful content and providing a first hand account of Franklin's experiences whilst travelling in the Mediterranean and the Greek islands in particular. Some very light, extremely minor age wear, VG £300-400