Frances Maria NIXON [10097]

  General Notes:

Anna had already indicated in mail from Cape Town how gravely concerned she was about the health of young Francis. She was clearly not improving, and it must have been agonising to have to set sail again knowing that the chances of the child surviving until they reached Tasmania were at best no more than evens. Anna's next surviving letter was dated the 10th July, 1843.
She wrote:-
". . . . . What would I give to enjoy a nice coze with you on the poop this calm moonlight evening, instead of being obliged to compress all the many topics I have to impart to the poor medium of pen and ink. But as, alas, I must content myself with these, I will profit by the singularly quiet evening to tell you every particular respecting dear Fanny , whom it has pleased our Heavenly Father to remove from a world of sin and sorrow to the realms of bliss. My letter from the Cape will have told you of our increased anxiety after a consultation with Dr. Forrest. He evidently thought very ill of her, but even his opinion did not prepare us for the very rapid manner in which she sunk after our return on board. The truth is she never recovered her strength after the application of the leeches and blister, which , in consequence ( Mr Rennie said) of acute inflammation, he put on a few days before we went on shore, and about the first of June a cough came on which worried her extremely.
After we left the Cape, Miss Wills gave up her bed to her and went into the stern cabin, or nursery as we called it, and after June 8th we all took it in turns, with Mrs Batchelor and the doctor, to sit up with her at night. Thank God, I do not think that dear Fanny suffered from the want of anything, for our ship is so well supplied with broths, milk (the cow has given us an abundance of milk ), eggs, etc. Whenever she was free from pain she liked her father to be near and to read to her and pray by her side every night. . . . .
On the morning of the 15th I observed a very sensible change in her condition, and she died at 7 p.m. that day. . . . .
We were very thankful for the two calm days we had immediately after death - the only two we had for some time before or after. The Archdeacon was most kind in making every arrangement for us , and nothing could be more considerate and sympathetic than the Captain. . . . . "