FRANKLIN WRITES TO HIS WIFE DESCRIBING THE FIRST LEVEE OF KING WILLIAM IV FRANKLIN (Sir John, 1786-1847, Arctic Explorer & Navigator, Lost in search of North West Passage)

Autograph Letter Signed to his wife "My dearest Jane" Jane FRANKLIN (1791-1875, second wife of Sir John) saying that he thought that she "would like to hear from me this evening ... The Levee was less crowded than any I have been at though tolerably full and as you may suppose a large proportion of Naval Officers. The King said very little if anything to the people in general, however the one immediately before me, a Naval Captain, was particularly addressed and even called back after he had withdrawn a few paces, the circumstance caused me to stand a few seconds directly before the King - and when the Lord in waiting announced my name - he said, yes I know him, held out his hand and said how do you do, I see you are here or some such observation. The Duke of Sussex then nodded to me & asked me how I did - and one or two others, as I passed made a nod of recognition ... To Basil Hall I did not understand that he made any remark - in fact it was even a more hurried business than under George 4th as it well might be for the King had been that morning reviewing the regiments in the Regent's Park Barracks & at Knightsbridge and breakfasting with the Duke of Wellington before the Levee and did not arrive at the Palace before 2 and then had to change his dress from a Field Marshalls to an Admirals which he wore at the Levee ... He has been for three days successively reviewing the different regiments of the Guards ... it will be well if in doing so much he does not soon knock himself up. He looked however very well. It seems certain there will be no drawing room before teh 21st of August when the mourning will be over. The say the Naval promotion is to be out this evening. I shall therefore ... remain in Town till Friday to see what has been done. Adml Rodd took Beaufort to me in his carriage. I believe the King did not speak to him - at least the Adml did not tell us that he had done so. I am not sure whether the King called me Captain or Sir John. I was surprised by receiving a letter today from my brother James telling me that as his wife has not lately written ... or made any arrangement ... that he has decided on coming home to fetch her and that he has actually secured his passage in the Lady Nugent - which ship may be soon expected. I wrote to Sir Thos Brown to inform him of his intention and shall endeavour to see the Genl tomorrow. I think he will approve of James's determination if we may judge from the remarks he made ...", he ends with a little more news and "Love & Kisses to my dear little Eleanor", 3 sides 4to., with integral autograph address leaf and seal, 55 Devonshire Street, 21st July

When King George IV died on 26th June 1830 without surviving legitimate issue, William succeeded him as King William IV. Aged 64, he was the oldest person yet to assume the British throne. Unlike his extravagant brother, William was unassuming, discouraging pomp and ceremony. The King immediately proved himself a conscientious worker. The Prime Minister, Wellington, stated that he had done more business with King William in ten minutes than he had with George IV in as many days.
Admirel John Tremayne RODD (1769-1838) was an officer of the Royal Navy noted for his services during the Napoleonic Wars.
Admiral Sir Francis BEAUFORT (1774-1857) was an Irish hydrographer, rear admiral of the Royal Navy, and creator of the Beaufort cipher and the Beaufort scale.

Item Date:  1830

Stock No:  40743