Frances (Appleton) Longfellow to Charles Sumner, 6 June 1860
Manuscript letter
Dear Sumner,
Allow me also to congratulate you upon your great speech, - the truest and most exhausting exposition of Slavery that was ever made, I imagine, since civilization was darkened & retarded by it. The power & calmness you combine with such severe truth, and willingness to grant all honorable exceptions, make it unanswerable. The beauty and feeling of the commencement, and the very delicate & Christian [p. 2] way in which you allude to your own experience of the barbarism you expose especially touched me.
It must have been a great relief to you to pour forth in one Niagara, these long-accumulated convictions, and that you were able to do so with such strength is a great matter of rejoicing to us. Now you know that your recovery is real & trustworthy.
We have been very anxious about you off there in the Middle Ages, while we are enjoying the peace & security of the 19th century, but I think [p. 3] now you will get safely back to us, and that we shall enjoy a little free & pleasant talk before we desert Craigie Castle for our smaller castle on the Sea.
Henry has gone, these two very warm days, to Lake Winnipiserge with a party of gentlemen, but has written you I believe.
Hoping to see you soon
I remain
ever your friend
Fanny Longfellow.
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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