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Frances (Appleton) Longfellow to Thomas Gold Appleton, 20 June 1842
Manuscript letter
Boston. June 20th 1842.
Dearest Tom,
I was delighted to get your entertaining letter from Geneseo – for your long silence made me begin to conjecture that Trenton’s witcheries had drawn you in to the treacherous flood like so many victims – in your zeal for sketching its manifold chasms-, however, it is more astonishing that you should remember to write at all considering the greater dangers of your present ‘locale’, within those Armida grounds-, with an enchantress not wholly “too bright or good for human nature’s daily food” it seems to minister to your wants. The cheery tone of your letter was most refreshing, mio caro, & made me hope that the novelty & interest of that mushroom country have obliterated some of your discontent with all things under this sun. I have nice news for you. The Britannia brought us good accounts of Mary, Mac & Ronny – Mary wrote from the Channell, just off East Bourne, the 2d of June, where Robert, with most prompt & thoughtful kindness went ashore in a boat & dashed up to London to secure us news by this steamer, while the rest pursued their course thither [crossed out: the] in the ship. If he had not, [p. 2] done so we should have lost the comfort of hearing of their safe arrival. She did not give much detail of the passage (I barely glanced at the letters before they were dispatched to Washington) but seemed to have borne it very well, was even stronger than when she left, altho’ much rainy weather had debarred her the free use of the deck Poor little Ronny had thriven admirably, in spite of having no better beverage than rice water, that vaunted prepared-milk, that was to survive a voyage to India & back, turning out butter after a day or two! How very vexatious to them all! They had one foggy night between 2 ice-bergs, which must have made Mary rather nervous. I have just been to welcome Miss Brimmer home, & it seems they were in some danger from their proximity to ice -, within 50 feet, without room to turn the ship, & foggy also! This warm winter has set adrift more of these spectral visitants than even last year. Your friends at the Barbdignag Farm must be thankful to hear that little Martin is so wonderfully put upon his legs again, walking now with a crutch & needing only strength. Fortunately, Miss B. says he exercised his arms, while so tediously confined, with gymnastics, so that instead of having lost [p. 3] health & vigour [crossed out: while] he has more than boys of his age. Mrs Bacon has returned quite well – but Mrs Brooks is not yet here to welcome her.
We are looking as cool in-doors as an Indian bungalow with straw carpets & curtainless windows. I have continued to get through this warm-wet weather, which always weakens me, but pine for the country & shall take up my abode with Em on Thursday probably – She is, like Beatrice, in a perpetual shower of roses at this time, & sent me in a lovely basket-full this mn’g by way of Oriental billet-doux.
Shroeder (Frank) is here & I am to drive him to Brookline this afternoon & hope to pick up some nice damsels for the spare seats. Poor Willie [re]ceived a sad damper this mn’g to his expectations of figuring ‘en beau’ at the Cushing fète (which bad weather postponed till tomorrow to the vexation of 300 little hearts) by falling on the stones in the yard & giving his poor nose a more Grattan-like contour than ever, not to speak of the black berries mingled with the strawberries & cream of his cheeks. I suppose you heard of Mrs Winthrop’s death. She faded gradually without pain, lovely to the last.
It is refreshing that the Apportionment Bill has been well decided at l[crossed out: e]ast, for since they are in the way of doing something the Tariff may be clinched speedily. [p. 4 bottom] What folly it would have been to add more brawlers & “orators” to that already surfeited body!
A letter from Father just arrived, with no politics but the announcement of this bill’s settlement & the Saltonstall speech on the Tariff. He has been having a grand dinner at Mr Webster’s with Lord A. & the foreign ministers. [p. 4 top] How I should like to see this Moon upon the foam wreaths & spectral mists of Niagara! Do write some poetry there if the impression is not too deep to bear expression – I fear it must be. Your account with Welles has just made its appearance. Dinner bell soundeth.
Good bye, my darling – Enjoy with heart & soul
Yr loving Fan.
ADDRESSED: T. G. APPLETON ESQ. / NIAGARA FALLS. / N. YORK
POSTMARK: BOSTON / JUN 20 / MASS.
ENDORSED: LETTERS OF 1843 & 1844.
Dearest Tom,
I was delighted to get your entertaining letter from Geneseo – for your long silence made me begin to conjecture that Trenton’s witcheries had drawn you in to the treacherous flood like so many victims – in your zeal for sketching its manifold chasms-, however, it is more astonishing that you should remember to write at all considering the greater dangers of your present ‘locale’, within those Armida grounds-, with an enchantress not wholly “too bright or good for human nature’s daily food” it seems to minister to your wants. The cheery tone of your letter was most refreshing, mio caro, & made me hope that the novelty & interest of that mushroom country have obliterated some of your discontent with all things under this sun. I have nice news for you. The Britannia brought us good accounts of Mary, Mac & Ronny – Mary wrote from the Channell, just off East Bourne, the 2d of June, where Robert, with most prompt & thoughtful kindness went ashore in a boat & dashed up to London to secure us news by this steamer, while the rest pursued their course thither [crossed out: the] in the ship. If he had not, [p. 2] done so we should have lost the comfort of hearing of their safe arrival. She did not give much detail of the passage (I barely glanced at the letters before they were dispatched to Washington) but seemed to have borne it very well, was even stronger than when she left, altho’ much rainy weather had debarred her the free use of the deck Poor little Ronny had thriven admirably, in spite of having no better beverage than rice water, that vaunted prepared-milk, that was to survive a voyage to India & back, turning out butter after a day or two! How very vexatious to them all! They had one foggy night between 2 ice-bergs, which must have made Mary rather nervous. I have just been to welcome Miss Brimmer home, & it seems they were in some danger from their proximity to ice -, within 50 feet, without room to turn the ship, & foggy also! This warm winter has set adrift more of these spectral visitants than even last year. Your friends at the Barbdignag Farm must be thankful to hear that little Martin is so wonderfully put upon his legs again, walking now with a crutch & needing only strength. Fortunately, Miss B. says he exercised his arms, while so tediously confined, with gymnastics, so that instead of having lost [p. 3] health & vigour [crossed out: while] he has more than boys of his age. Mrs Bacon has returned quite well – but Mrs Brooks is not yet here to welcome her.
We are looking as cool in-doors as an Indian bungalow with straw carpets & curtainless windows. I have continued to get through this warm-wet weather, which always weakens me, but pine for the country & shall take up my abode with Em on Thursday probably – She is, like Beatrice, in a perpetual shower of roses at this time, & sent me in a lovely basket-full this mn’g by way of Oriental billet-doux.
Shroeder (Frank) is here & I am to drive him to Brookline this afternoon & hope to pick up some nice damsels for the spare seats. Poor Willie [re]ceived a sad damper this mn’g to his expectations of figuring ‘en beau’ at the Cushing fète (which bad weather postponed till tomorrow to the vexation of 300 little hearts) by falling on the stones in the yard & giving his poor nose a more Grattan-like contour than ever, not to speak of the black berries mingled with the strawberries & cream of his cheeks. I suppose you heard of Mrs Winthrop’s death. She faded gradually without pain, lovely to the last.
It is refreshing that the Apportionment Bill has been well decided at l[crossed out: e]ast, for since they are in the way of doing something the Tariff may be clinched speedily. [p. 4 bottom] What folly it would have been to add more brawlers & “orators” to that already surfeited body!
A letter from Father just arrived, with no politics but the announcement of this bill’s settlement & the Saltonstall speech on the Tariff. He has been having a grand dinner at Mr Webster’s with Lord A. & the foreign ministers. [p. 4 top] How I should like to see this Moon upon the foam wreaths & spectral mists of Niagara! Do write some poetry there if the impression is not too deep to bear expression – I fear it must be. Your account with Welles has just made its appearance. Dinner bell soundeth.
Good bye, my darling – Enjoy with heart & soul
Yr loving Fan.
ADDRESSED: T. G. APPLETON ESQ. / NIAGARA FALLS. / N. YORK
POSTMARK: BOSTON / JUN 20 / MASS.
ENDORSED: LETTERS OF 1843 & 1844.
Archives Number: 1011/002.001-012#006
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Correspondence (1011/002), (LONG-SeriesName)
, Letters from Frances Longfellow (1011/002.001), (LONG-SubseriesName)
, 1842 (1011/002.001-012), (LONG-FileUnitName)
, Letters from Frances Longfellow (1011/002.001), (LONG-SubseriesName)
, 1842 (1011/002.001-012), (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
2021-06-16
06/20/1842
Manuscript letter in Frances Appleton Longfellow Papers, Series II. Correspondence, A. Outgoing, 1842. (1011/002.001-012#006)
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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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Wednesday, November 9, 2022 6:41:15 PM
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