Letter from Mrs Eliza Peddie to Eleanor Gell about the loss of the Franklin Expedition

5 Dundas Terrace Woolwich Feb 20th Dear Madam, The receipt of your very kind letter afforded me much pleasure and was very soothing to my feelings; I thank you most sincerely for the sympathy you have expressed and the same towards you. This is a painful and mysterious dispensation of Providence and may the Almighty give us all grace to submit to His holy Will submissively and without murmuring but how strange that of all the Expeditions that have been sent to those inhospitable Regions such a calamity has not overtaken any others I quite agree with you in thinking that none of the Officers + men can be living; but unless they were overwhelmed by some sudden cala- mity, they must have undergone suffering such as one cannot contemplate without a shudder, although my dear husband was not in the Erebus, he saw much of your Revered parent for he mentioned in his last letter from Disco that he had often dined with him and that he was more like a father than a supreme Commanding Officer to those who were serving under him, and that he was consequently mighty beloved by them all. I have no doubt but the Officers of the two ships mixed much together whenever the service permitted. I think with you that there is very little chance of any further intelligence of the missing ships next Autumn, and suppose those that are now out will return, as soon as possible. I intend to put on mourning at the period you mention, and so do the family connexions of my late husband. I did indeed lose a dear child, an only child, a very interesting and intelligent little girl, some four years and a half old, who was whilst spared a great comfort to me, and most keenly did I feel the loss. But whilst we are in the flesh we must ex- pect to meet with trials for this is not our Rest, but let us hope that they may be sanctified to our spiritual good and may these afflictions which are for a moment work out for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. Once more thanking you for your kindness Believe me Dear Madam Yours very truly E.M. Peddie