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Peleg Wadsworth to the Wadsworth daughters, 13 February 1796
Manuscript letter
Philadelphia 13Feby1796
Saturday Morng. 10 Clock
My dear Daughters.
There is no Congress today – I have an hour to write a dozen Letters –
You are all welcome home from Your Tour – Beside the agreables of hiram chiefly consisting perhaps in the Novelty of the Scene, I think your visit to Fryburg was much appreciated by the Hospitality & agreableness[sic] of Mr Fessendens Family – The old Ladys Observations were not a little Gratify-ing to me – I well remember I used to be her favourite of all College, & was as much pleas’d with a pretence[sic] for calling (p. 2) to see her, as a Beau would have been at the sight of his Mistress – The good will of such good old Folks is to me highly gratifying – It can proceed from nothing but the Goodness of the Heart –
I feel much in favour of cul-tivating an intimate aquain-tance with the Family – I think it will be very agreable & service-able on both sides – It is the Congeni-ality of Souls that renders an ac-quaintance agreable & edifying. I think You must invite the young Folks to make You a visit at Portland before the Snow is gone –
I am glad You like Rutha’s Dis- (p. 3) position – I think she only wants educa-tion – this is her misfortune, not her fault. You may be of service to her in making some little arrangements that may comport with the common fashions of the day – but any great change is not to be attempted – As she is, she is an excellent Wife for a country farmer, to attempt a thorough Altera-tion would be likely to spoil that es-sential Qualification, but would never produce what the world would call an elegant Lady – perhaps Rutha makes Charles as good a Wife in his Situation as any he can ^ could have had – How does he appear to enjoy himself? is he setting out on a prospect of happiness or not?
-Adieu
[Sidebar note from PW:] The Misses Wallaces desire their Love to You all –
[Dated:] Papa’s letter 13 Febry 96 / Portland
[Note:] Philadelphia
[Addressed:] Misses W – s
Saturday Morng. 10 Clock
My dear Daughters.
There is no Congress today – I have an hour to write a dozen Letters –
You are all welcome home from Your Tour – Beside the agreables of hiram chiefly consisting perhaps in the Novelty of the Scene, I think your visit to Fryburg was much appreciated by the Hospitality & agreableness[sic] of Mr Fessendens Family – The old Ladys Observations were not a little Gratify-ing to me – I well remember I used to be her favourite of all College, & was as much pleas’d with a pretence[sic] for calling (p. 2) to see her, as a Beau would have been at the sight of his Mistress – The good will of such good old Folks is to me highly gratifying – It can proceed from nothing but the Goodness of the Heart –
I feel much in favour of cul-tivating an intimate aquain-tance with the Family – I think it will be very agreable & service-able on both sides – It is the Congeni-ality of Souls that renders an ac-quaintance agreable & edifying. I think You must invite the young Folks to make You a visit at Portland before the Snow is gone –
I am glad You like Rutha’s Dis- (p. 3) position – I think she only wants educa-tion – this is her misfortune, not her fault. You may be of service to her in making some little arrangements that may comport with the common fashions of the day – but any great change is not to be attempted – As she is, she is an excellent Wife for a country farmer, to attempt a thorough Altera-tion would be likely to spoil that es-sential Qualification, but would never produce what the world would call an elegant Lady – perhaps Rutha makes Charles as good a Wife in his Situation as any he can ^ could have had – How does he appear to enjoy himself? is he setting out on a prospect of happiness or not?
-Adieu
[Sidebar note from PW:] The Misses Wallaces desire their Love to You all –
[Dated:] Papa’s letter 13 Febry 96 / Portland
[Note:] Philadelphia
[Addressed:] Misses W – s
Archives Number: 1005/4.1.1-03#37
U. S. National Park Service
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Courtesy of National Park Service, Longfellow House-Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site (1005/4.1.1-3#37)
Public domain
Peleg Wadsworth Papers (1005/004.001), (LONG-SeriesName)
, Correspondence - Outgoing (1005/004.001.001), (LONG-SubseriesName)
, Letterbook - 1794-1807 (1005/004.001.001-003), (LONG-FileUnitName)
, Correspondence - Outgoing (1005/004.001.001), (LONG-SubseriesName)
, Letterbook - 1794-1807 (1005/004.001.001-003), (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 Catalog Number : LONG 27923
Title: Finding Aid to the Wadsworth-Longfellow Family (1610-1971) Papers, 1610-1971 (bulk dates 1745-1950)
URL: https://www.nps.gov/long/learn/historyculture/archives.htm#WL
URL: https://www.nps.gov/long/learn/historyculture/archives.htm#WL
2021/06/03
02/13/1796
Manuscript letter in the Wadsworth-Longfellow Family Papers, Peleg Wadsworth and Family Papers, Peleg Wadsworth Papers, Correspondence, Outgoing, Letterbook - 1794-1807. (1005/4.1.1-3#37)
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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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