{"id":1806,"date":"2017-11-15T12:05:40","date_gmt":"2017-11-15T12:05:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.bars.ac.uk\/blog\/?p=1806"},"modified":"2017-11-15T12:05:40","modified_gmt":"2017-11-15T12:05:40","slug":"archive-spotlight-on-the-derbyshire-record-office-a-marriage-of-the-romantic-and-the-scientific","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bars.ac.uk\/blog\/?p=1806","title":{"rendered":"Archive Spotlight on The Derbyshire Record Office: A Marriage of the Romantic and the Scientific"},"content":{"rendered":"

Thank you to Val Derbyshire (University of Sheffield) for this intriguing and charming account of her experience carrying out research at the Derbyshire Record Office – and the letters she spent time reading there. You can also read Val’s BARS blog report from the Thelwall Conference here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n

\u2018Unrestrained Epistolary Intercourse\u2019: A Marriage of the Romantic and the Scientific<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

by<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Val Derbyshire, PhD Researcher, School of English, University of Sheffield<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Mary

Mary Ann Flaxman, Detail of portrait of Eleanor Anne Porden, undated.<\/p><\/div>\n

I first stumbled across the works of Eleanor Anne Porden (1795-1825), Romantic poet and first wife of Arctic explorer, John Franklin (1786-1847) quite by chance whilst working a night shift on an out of hours helpline at Derbyshire County Council.\u00a0\u00a0 I quite often used these night shifts – which were invariably quiet – to study for the MA I was completing at the time.\u00a0 During one shift, I was\u00a0 researching an assignment on Mary Shelley\u2019s Frankenstein <\/em>(1818), and reading Jen Hill\u2019s excellent study from 2008, White Horizon: The Arctic in the Nineteenth-Century British Imagination <\/em>(New York: University of New York Press, 2008), when I came across Hill\u2019s analysis of Porden\u2019s The Arctic Expeditions: A Poem <\/em>(1818).\u00a0 Hill\u2019s research had accessed the personal correspondence between Porden and her fianc\u00e9, Franklin, which were held just down the road from where I was sitting, at the Derbyshire Record Office.\u00a0 Like all good explorers, I decided to follow in Hill\u2019s footsteps and read this correspondence for myself.<\/p>\n

It took me a couple of years, however, to get around to it.\u00a0 Indeed, I was in the middle of my PhD and undertaking a work placement at the University of Derby before I finally viewed the letters for myself.\u00a0 My brief at the University of Derby was to design a new MLit course for students concerning the long Eighteenth Century.<\/p>\n

The focus was to design a course which would permit students to study texts with a \u2018distinctly Derby\u2019 theme.\u00a0 With this in view, I visited the Record Office to transcribe the love letters between Porden and Franklin.\u00a0 These letters would then feature as part of the students\u2019 course reading.<\/p>\n

\"Derbyshire

Derbyshire Record Office, New Street, Matlock \u2013 home to a large collection of personal correspondence between Eleanor Anne Porden and John Franklin.<\/p><\/div>\n

The holding is situated at the top of a very steep hill in Matlock, Derbyshire (a town which was visited by both Mary Shelley and her fictional progeny, Victor Frankenstein, although one suspects Shelley probably visited the more picturesque Matlock Bath, dubbed \u2018Little Switzerland\u2019 by the locals).<\/p>\n

\"Matlock

Matlock Bath, dubbed \u2018Little Switzerland\u2019 by locals \u2013 the more picturesque side of Matlock town and home to a park and pleasure ground which has been in use since the 1780s.<\/p><\/div>\n

The archive contains an immense number of letters from Porden to literary friends as well as the romantic correspondence between herself and Franklin.\u00a0 Franklin\u2019s letters alone in this holding number in the hundreds.\u00a0 With this in view, I focused my research upon the period from 1815 to 1823, which covered Porden\u2019s first meeting with Franklin, her publication of Coeur de Lion <\/em>(1822), her somewhat surprised receipt of Franklin\u2019s marriage proposal upon his return from his first expedition to the Arctic, the death of her much beloved father, her marriage to Franklin, concluding at the point of her demise in 1825 from tuberculosis which was accelerated by the birth of her daughter (Eleanor Isabella, born 1824).<\/p>\n

The letters are immensely rich and rewarding to read.\u00a0 They contain extracts of original poetry, tinges of regret at the creative projects she left unfinished (which she refers to as \u2018a ghost\u2019 which \u2018haunt[s]\u2019 her with \u2018so many delightful phantoms of other years\u2019[1]<\/a>), and charts her relationship with her fianc\u00e9.\u00a0 This in itself is a journey worthy of exploration.\u00a0 Porden travels from a starting point of grief at having just lost her father, surprise at Franklin\u2019s unexpected proposal of marriage, through a peculiar epistolary courtship, which warms as time progresses, but ultimately becomes as cold as the Arctic itself at Franklin\u2019s suggestion that she should relinquish her literary career after their marriage.\u00a0 Indeed, some of the letters seem to express extreme doubt upon Porden\u2019s behalf that they should proceed with the marriage at all.<\/p>\n

The \u2018love letters\u2019, if you can term them this, commence upon Franklin\u2019s return from his first fraught voyage to the Arctic.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 During this initial exploratory trip, 11 of Franklin\u2019s 20 men died, primarily from starvation, although it is speculated that one may have been murdered, and hints of cannibalism sullied the reputation of the voyage.\u00a0 Upon Franklin\u2019s return, his first action is to write to Porden from the Hudson\u2019s Bay Ship, Prince of Wales, Atlantic Ocean, \u2018at the distance of 600 miles from the Orkney Isles\u2019[2]<\/a>.\u00a0 Here, in an opening romantic gesture, he informs Porden that he has named some of the Arctic archipelago after her: \u2018I can only now say that I have named some islands in the Arctic Sea \u2018Porden\u2019 as a tribute of my regard for your family.\u2019[3]<\/a><\/p>\n

Porden\u2019s response, however, is perhaps not the one Franklin anticipated.\u00a0 On mourning stationery, with a thick black border, Porden informs that her \u2018poor father was laid in his grave just one month ago\u2019, although she thanks him for \u2018fixing our names upon the globe [and] shall feel proud to see them figure in the map which will be prefixed to your work.\u00a0 Proud, less perhaps for my own sake than that of those who are no more.\u2019[4]<\/a><\/p>\n

Once safely back on terra firma, Franklin wastes little time in proposing marriage, in a meeting in London which Porden describes as \u2018exquisitely [\u2026] painful\u2019, although she does concede \u2018that there is no one else in all my acquaintance, who, if I am any judge of my own feelings, could have spoken to me on the subject you have done, without meeting an instant and positive denial\u2019.[5]<\/a>\u00a0 It\u2019s hardly the language of love, and, indeed, once Porden has accepted his proposal, the epistolary courtship proceeds in a strangely formal manner.<\/p>\n

However, by the end of December 1822, Porden seems to have embraced her new future and begins to send more informal letters to her fianc\u00e9.\u00a0 Sending him \u2018a fine saucy message\u2019, she begs that he will write frequently to her, in order that they may \u2018arrive at a more intimate knowledge of each other\u2019s feelings and sentiments from unrestrained epistolary intercourse\u2019.[6]<\/a>\u00a0 It becomes, however, a case of \u2018be careful what you wish for\u2019, as aspects of Franklin\u2019s character emerge, which, it becomes clear, Porden would really rather not know.\u00a0 The most pressing of these is his rather patriarchal view that she should relinquish her literary career upon their marriage.<\/p>\n

In a very formal and lengthy epistle dated 23rd<\/sup> March 1823, Porden remonstrates with Franklin upon his belief that she should cease writing, informing him that she was \u2018asking no favour\u2019 and \u2018claiming no concession\u2019 with the continuance of her literary career.\u00a0 \u2018My tastes and habits had been fully known to you from the first moment of our acquaintance\u2019 and I could not have supposed that any man, to whom they were in the slightest degree disagreeable, would ever have thought of addressing me\u2019.[7]<\/a>\u00a0 \u2018[I]t was the pleasure of Heaven\u2019, she tells him, \u2018to bestow those talents on me, and it was my father\u2019s pride to cultivate them to the utmost of his power.\u00a0 I should therefore be guilty of a double dereliction of duty in abandoning their exercise.\u2019[8]<\/a>\u00a0 At the close of this letter, Porden offers Franklin a way out of their engagement:<\/p>\n

If on the contrary you find that your imagination has sketched a false portrait of me, that your feelings are changed, or, no matter what the causes, that you have taken a rash and inconsiderate step, do not hesitate to tell me.[9]<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Although the tone of subsequent letters fluctuates, it almost seems as if Porden is seeking an exit herself from this moment onwards.\u00a0 During the ensuing months prior to their marriage, Porden\u2019s letters are suffused with doubt, and the resulting letters question disparities in their religious beliefs, and her sociable nature and many friendships as opposed to his more solitary leanings.<\/p>\n

The wedding, however, duly took place in August 1823.\u00a0\u00a0 In a final romantic gesture, Porden wore a wedding dress, which had flowers discovered in the Arctic by Franklin and his team, and detailed in the descriptions of his voyages, embroidered upon the hem.\u00a0 Unfortunately, the gesture was somewhat wasted on Franklin who \u2018did not discover the compliment paid [\u2026] until it was pointed out to me\u2019.[10]<\/a>\u00a0 The incorporation of the flowers, \u2018Eutoca, [\u2026] Richardsonil and Hoodil\u2019 into the wedding ceremony demonstrates perhaps more than anything how this was a marriage between the Romantic and the Scientific natures of the participants.[11]<\/a> Porden\u2019s letters are personal, charming and ever seeking a point of connection with her fianc\u00e9.\u00a0 Franklin\u2019s are much less easy to read and are slightly clinical in tone, although there can be no doubt of the \u2018sincere esteem\u2019 he entertains for her.[12]<\/a> \u00a0\u00a0Here, it can be seen how the participants struggle to locate neutral territory and balance the conflicting demands of romance with scientific and literary endeavour.<\/p>\n

The archive is voluminous, with the Derbyshire Record Office holding much of Porden\u2019s writings, both personal and professional, as well as Franklin\u2019s huge correspondence.\u00a0 If researchers have an interest in this, there can be no better place to start an exploration of both the romantic and the scientific than in a small archive at the top of a Matlock hill.<\/p>\n

\"Plate

Plate delineating species of Arctic Flowers, some of which would feature upon the hem of Porden\u2019s wedding gown. From John Franklin, Narrative of a Journey to the Shores of the Polar Sea in the Years 1819, 20, 21 and 22 (London: John Murray, 1823).<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

[1]<\/a> Eleanor Anne Porden, Letter to Mr.Elliott dated 12th<\/sup> July 1822<\/em>, held in the Derbyshire Record Office holding number D3311\/8-13.<\/p>\n

[2]<\/a> John Franklin, Letter to Eleanor Anne Porden dated 19th<\/sup> October 1822, <\/em>Derbyshire Record Office holding number D3311\/8\/3\/1-40.<\/p>\n

[3]<\/a> Eleanor Anne Porden, Letter to John Franklin dated 22nd<\/sup> October 1822, <\/em>Derbyshire Record Office holding number D3311\/8\/3\/1-40.<\/p>\n

[4]<\/a> Eleanor Anne Porden, Letter to John Franklin dated 22nd<\/sup> October 1822, <\/em>Derbyshire Record Office holding number D3311\/8\/3\/1-40.<\/p>\n

[5]<\/a> Eleanor Anne Porden, Letter to John Franklin dated 5th<\/sup> December 1822, <\/em>Derbyshire Record Office holding number D3311\/8\/3\/1-40<\/p>\n

[6]<\/a> Eleanor Anne Porden, Letter to John Franklin dated 22nd<\/sup> December 1822, <\/em>Derbyshire Record Office holding number D311\/8\/3\/1-40.<\/p>\n

[7]<\/a> Eleanor Anne Porden, Letter to John Franklin dated 29th<\/sup> March 1823, <\/em>Derbyshire Record Office holding number D3311\/8\/3\/1-40.<\/p>\n

[8]<\/a> Eleanor Anne Porden, Letter to John Franklin dated 29th<\/sup> March 1823, <\/em>Derbyshire Record Office holding number D3311\/8\/3\/1-40.<\/p>\n

[9]<\/a> Eleanor Anne Porden, Letter to John Franklin dated 29th<\/sup> March 1823, <\/em>Derbyshire Record Office holding number D3311\/8\/3\/1-40.<\/p>\n

[10]<\/a> John Franklin, Letter to John Richardson dated 7th<\/sup> July 1823, <\/em>Derbyshire Record Office, holding number D3311\/12.<\/p>\n

[11]<\/a> John Franklin, Letter to John Richardson dated 7th<\/sup> July 1823, <\/em>Derbyshire Record Office, holding number D3311\/12.<\/p>\n

[12]<\/a> John Franklin, Letter to Eleanor Anne Porden dated 10th<\/sup> July 1823, <\/em>Derbyshire Record Office, holding number D3311\/8\/3\/1-40.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Thank you to Val Derbyshire (University of Sheffield) for this intriguing and charming account of her experience carrying out research at the Derbyshire Record Office – and the letters she… Read more »<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pagelayer_contact_templates":[],"_pagelayer_content":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bars.ac.uk\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1806"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bars.ac.uk\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bars.ac.uk\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bars.ac.uk\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bars.ac.uk\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1806"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.bars.ac.uk\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1806\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1813,"href":"https:\/\/www.bars.ac.uk\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1806\/revisions\/1813"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bars.ac.uk\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1806"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bars.ac.uk\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1806"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bars.ac.uk\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1806"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}