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Fanny Longfellow to Isaac Jewett, 10 November 1843
Manuscript letter
Cambridge. Nov. 10th 1843.
Dear Jewett,
When I remember that your last letter was addressed to “Miss Fanny Appleton,” altho’ that name had ceased to be when you wrote it, & when I remember what a pleasant letter it was (will you write as agreeably to me now that I am married as before?) my conscience reproaches me for not thanking you before this – but I have not a mere, woman’s excuse to offer, fabricated out of nothing, but a sound & good one, viz that for the last three mouths my husband’s eyes have been false to their duty so that mine have had a double share. As his amanuensis & reader, of course, I have been unable to use my pen often on my own score & Mary & Tom have claimed that little. We have lately returned from a 6 weeks sojourn in New York where the famous Oculist Dr Elliott subjected him to a slow martyrdom, which has produced very little good effect as yet, but, which being continued at home will, I doubt not, restore his eyes to their fit condition. So many of our friends have been cured by him that we cannot but hold much faith in his skill. Altho’ birds are said to sing best in darkened cages I fear my poet [p. 2] will utter few strains until he is restored to day light, despite the illustrious example of Homer & Milton. Not that his eye sight is dimmed but the nerve was strained – at one unlucky twilight & he finds reading & writing too painful to be indulged in at present.
We were in town, yesterday, & I was grieved to hear from Aunt Sam that you had been ill – pray nurse yourself well, before you return to that dear dangerous land of the South, which seems to have been prohibited, thus far by your strong love for it from during you injury, but is not to be trusted. In your last letter you were magnanimously flying to behold happiness & the Casneal ‘thro’ another man’s eyes’ – the mysterious failure of whish marriage I have heard from your friend Judge Eustis, who dined with us on the hottest of all possible days last summer, but the why & wherefore I have vainly sought to know. Did’nt [sic] the lady know her own mind, & mistook a flicker or a flame, or was it too great an effort, at the last to resign the glories of belleship & the fame & train which followed the “Great Western”?
From the strange life she seems to have led for a maiden, moving from North to South more like a comet than a star, I should think, if she had not a woman’s heart after all, it would be difficult to content her with more private happiness – but if that is not warped by adulation she will find [crossed out: the] other life crumble like a dream [p. 3] at the torch of morning. Tom says he met a man in the Pyrenees, where he wandered last summer, who was going go Paris about this marriage. He was a N. Orleans Frenchman. Thus strangely does it come to us now & then – pray enlighten our curiosity if it is in your power & will. If not, forgive my conjectures as I never feel quite safe in mentioning her to such an admirer [crossed out: of her’s] as you have proved yourself. We are living here in the old Craigie House, haunted by Washington’s chost & many fine associations. Father has presented us with it & most happy are we to inhabit such a noble old mansion, & such a lovely view of the Charles [crossed out: coiling] reeling to the sea thro’ green meadows like a jolly tot. I had always a penchant for country life, [torn out] [crossed out: like] as the wife in “Marriage” liked a wilderness as a place where one could have plenty of good society as well as roses & streams. That is, a city, full of friends, within 3 miles, is not a bad thing altho’ one’s own Library & fireside make one very indifferent about seeing them very often. You, oh philosopher & psychologer, or gist, which is it? will comprehend this seeming paradox. I half hoped for Tom by the last steamer as he expressed much desire to see me invested with matronly keys, but, he finds Paris versus Boston not worth a trial – betwixt the two sides of his heart. Paris has too much to offer after his long exile & it is not so easily returned to as Boston – I am glad he has decided to remain until Spring, for that will gild the barrenness here better than snow flakes & I wish him to become somewhat blasé with the other side before he resigns himself again to this. But that you [p. 4 bottom] will say is a[crossed out: n] wish impossible to realize. I hope not – for he will find some day, happiness grows in all soils but best in one’s native earth. Not pleasure, perhaps, but that, too, can be found with good eyes where the climate seems most cruel. Aunt Sam is in mourning for her Mother: what a sad barrier has been between them of late like a horrid spell, both chained to their chair so near, & yet so separated. I feel a pang whenever I enter that once cheerful house & see her who was its riches treasure condemned [p. 4 top] to such lifelessness. Her spirits, thro’ Go’ds mercy, rarely fail but we all fear thus she will ever be. My sister Mary has a little girl called Eva after some renowned heroine of the Clan & her boy Ronny is well & clever & she herself much stronger than last year. They still live in the country where Mac can follow the hounds & she her own sweet will & all thrive on their own butter & cheese & milk unacquainted with London pumps.
New York seemed more detestable to us than ever- the fountains cannot wash it clean any more than Saturday night preser [p. 4 middle] [crossed out: ser]ve a school-boy from weekly contamination & I could not but compare it to a provincial French-man with soiled shirt & rings on his fingers.
[p. 1 cross] We saw much of Willis at the Astor living au cinquème & like a faithful chiffonnier as he is, adding to his Mirror from every passing traveler – Now & then he picks up something worth the trouble but what a life for a man of cleverness & apparently, some heart. My husband sends his kindest regards & condolences with mine & wishes he could write. His sister Mrs Greenleaf goes to New Orleans in about a week. I hope this will reach you in Cincinnati as I cannot spare it to Washington clerks, not knowing when I can scribble again.
Yrs most sincerely
Fanny Longfellow.
[p. 2 cross] I hear you have been interested in Animal Magnetism. Both Tom & myself were its devoted disciples last winter when my interest in it was painfully intense. We saw & aided many wonderful phenomena.
ADDRESSED: I.A. JEWETT ESQ. / [CROSSED OUT: CINCINNATI / OHIO] / NEW ORLEANS
FRANKED: FREE / N. APPLETON
POSTMARK: BOSTON / NOV 14 / M.S.
Dear Jewett,
When I remember that your last letter was addressed to “Miss Fanny Appleton,” altho’ that name had ceased to be when you wrote it, & when I remember what a pleasant letter it was (will you write as agreeably to me now that I am married as before?) my conscience reproaches me for not thanking you before this – but I have not a mere, woman’s excuse to offer, fabricated out of nothing, but a sound & good one, viz that for the last three mouths my husband’s eyes have been false to their duty so that mine have had a double share. As his amanuensis & reader, of course, I have been unable to use my pen often on my own score & Mary & Tom have claimed that little. We have lately returned from a 6 weeks sojourn in New York where the famous Oculist Dr Elliott subjected him to a slow martyrdom, which has produced very little good effect as yet, but, which being continued at home will, I doubt not, restore his eyes to their fit condition. So many of our friends have been cured by him that we cannot but hold much faith in his skill. Altho’ birds are said to sing best in darkened cages I fear my poet [p. 2] will utter few strains until he is restored to day light, despite the illustrious example of Homer & Milton. Not that his eye sight is dimmed but the nerve was strained – at one unlucky twilight & he finds reading & writing too painful to be indulged in at present.
We were in town, yesterday, & I was grieved to hear from Aunt Sam that you had been ill – pray nurse yourself well, before you return to that dear dangerous land of the South, which seems to have been prohibited, thus far by your strong love for it from during you injury, but is not to be trusted. In your last letter you were magnanimously flying to behold happiness & the Casneal ‘thro’ another man’s eyes’ – the mysterious failure of whish marriage I have heard from your friend Judge Eustis, who dined with us on the hottest of all possible days last summer, but the why & wherefore I have vainly sought to know. Did’nt [sic] the lady know her own mind, & mistook a flicker or a flame, or was it too great an effort, at the last to resign the glories of belleship & the fame & train which followed the “Great Western”?
From the strange life she seems to have led for a maiden, moving from North to South more like a comet than a star, I should think, if she had not a woman’s heart after all, it would be difficult to content her with more private happiness – but if that is not warped by adulation she will find [crossed out: the] other life crumble like a dream [p. 3] at the torch of morning. Tom says he met a man in the Pyrenees, where he wandered last summer, who was going go Paris about this marriage. He was a N. Orleans Frenchman. Thus strangely does it come to us now & then – pray enlighten our curiosity if it is in your power & will. If not, forgive my conjectures as I never feel quite safe in mentioning her to such an admirer [crossed out: of her’s] as you have proved yourself. We are living here in the old Craigie House, haunted by Washington’s chost & many fine associations. Father has presented us with it & most happy are we to inhabit such a noble old mansion, & such a lovely view of the Charles [crossed out: coiling] reeling to the sea thro’ green meadows like a jolly tot. I had always a penchant for country life, [torn out] [crossed out: like] as the wife in “Marriage” liked a wilderness as a place where one could have plenty of good society as well as roses & streams. That is, a city, full of friends, within 3 miles, is not a bad thing altho’ one’s own Library & fireside make one very indifferent about seeing them very often. You, oh philosopher & psychologer, or gist, which is it? will comprehend this seeming paradox. I half hoped for Tom by the last steamer as he expressed much desire to see me invested with matronly keys, but, he finds Paris versus Boston not worth a trial – betwixt the two sides of his heart. Paris has too much to offer after his long exile & it is not so easily returned to as Boston – I am glad he has decided to remain until Spring, for that will gild the barrenness here better than snow flakes & I wish him to become somewhat blasé with the other side before he resigns himself again to this. But that you [p. 4 bottom] will say is a[crossed out: n] wish impossible to realize. I hope not – for he will find some day, happiness grows in all soils but best in one’s native earth. Not pleasure, perhaps, but that, too, can be found with good eyes where the climate seems most cruel. Aunt Sam is in mourning for her Mother: what a sad barrier has been between them of late like a horrid spell, both chained to their chair so near, & yet so separated. I feel a pang whenever I enter that once cheerful house & see her who was its riches treasure condemned [p. 4 top] to such lifelessness. Her spirits, thro’ Go’ds mercy, rarely fail but we all fear thus she will ever be. My sister Mary has a little girl called Eva after some renowned heroine of the Clan & her boy Ronny is well & clever & she herself much stronger than last year. They still live in the country where Mac can follow the hounds & she her own sweet will & all thrive on their own butter & cheese & milk unacquainted with London pumps.
New York seemed more detestable to us than ever- the fountains cannot wash it clean any more than Saturday night preser [p. 4 middle] [crossed out: ser]ve a school-boy from weekly contamination & I could not but compare it to a provincial French-man with soiled shirt & rings on his fingers.
[p. 1 cross] We saw much of Willis at the Astor living au cinquème & like a faithful chiffonnier as he is, adding to his Mirror from every passing traveler – Now & then he picks up something worth the trouble but what a life for a man of cleverness & apparently, some heart. My husband sends his kindest regards & condolences with mine & wishes he could write. His sister Mrs Greenleaf goes to New Orleans in about a week. I hope this will reach you in Cincinnati as I cannot spare it to Washington clerks, not knowing when I can scribble again.
Yrs most sincerely
Fanny Longfellow.
[p. 2 cross] I hear you have been interested in Animal Magnetism. Both Tom & myself were its devoted disciples last winter when my interest in it was painfully intense. We saw & aided many wonderful phenomena.
ADDRESSED: I.A. JEWETT ESQ. / [CROSSED OUT: CINCINNATI / OHIO] / NEW ORLEANS
FRANKED: FREE / N. APPLETON
POSTMARK: BOSTON / NOV 14 / M.S.
Archives Number: 1011/002.001-013#029
U. S. National Park Service
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Courtesy of National Park Service, Longfellow House-Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site; Archives Number 1011/002.001-013#029
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Correspondence (1011/002), (LONG-SeriesName)
, Letters from Frances Longfellow (1011/002.001), (LONG-SubseriesName)
, 1843 (1011/002.001-013), (LONG-FileUnitName)
, Letters from Frances Longfellow (1011/002.001), (LONG-SubseriesName)
, 1843 (1011/002.001-013), (LONG-FileUnitName)
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Longfellow House - Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site, Code: LONG
Longfellow House - Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site, Middlesex County, Massachusetts
Latitude: 42.3769989013672, Longitude: -71.1264038085938
Latitude: 42.3769989013672, Longitude: -71.1264038085938
NPS Museum Number Catalog : LONG 20257
Title: Finding Aid to the Frances Elizabeth Appleton Longfellow (1817-1861) Papers, 1825-1961 (bulk dated: 1832-1861)
URL: https://www.nps.gov/long/learn/historyculture/archives.htm#FEAL
URL: https://www.nps.gov/long/learn/historyculture/archives.htm#FEAL
Unknown
11/10/1843
Manuscript letter in Frances Appleton Longfellow Papers, Series II. Correspondence, A. Outgoing, 1843. (1011/002.001-013#029)
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Organization: Longfellow House-Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site
Address: 105 Brattle Street, Cambridge, MA 02138
Email: LONG_archives@nps.gov
Address: 105 Brattle Street, Cambridge, MA 02138
Email: LONG_archives@nps.gov
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