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Frances (Appleton) Longfellow to Reverend Samuel Longfellow, 24 February 1851
Manuscript letter
Cambridge, Monday.
Feb 24th 1851.
Dear Sam
Saturday being Washington’s birthday & my baby just five months old that day, we thought we would celebrate it by her christening which was accordingly done, and it went off so pleasantly I wish I had written to urge you to be present. But the truth is it was too trying an occasion to me to bear many witnesses and I asked no one but the family. Dr Francis officiated as usual very feelingly, & gave her the name of Alice Mary – the former because it occurred often in my father’s family in former days & there is an Alice Archer in yours - & because we like it, & thought it well to revive it, & the [p. 2] latter was added at the last moment, because desired by so many. It was a very solemn & painful moment to me & my darling was truly baptized in her mother’s tears – may they keep her pure from sin – but it is a ceremony I love & reverence & would not put aside. She behaved beautifully, looking about most intelligently, and is, I think, the brightest, merriest & strongest baby I have ever had. We had some ice in the dining room, Washington’s bust crowned with evergreen looking pleasantly down upon us, & the table adorned with a finely frosted christening cake & beautiful bouquet brought by Miss Goodwin. Jewett was present having arrived to accompany papa in a fortnight to Antigua, to see my sister & escape east winds – thence [p. 3] to England for the great Fair, there being fine steamers all the way. The safety of the Atlantic has thrilled us all with such joy as I never saw so general in the community before at such an event, - for the anxiety was so prolonged & the fears so great. I confess I was very hopeless thinking it about time for some accident, & having little faith in the soundness of our boats. The Wadsworths were in great distress – for they all lean upon James - & his beautiful wife was n N. York almost in despair when he suddenly appeared before her. Fortunately his sister Mrs Murray, for whose wedding he was away, did not feel the same anxiety hearing sooner of his safety – but those here had the thought of her suffering added to their own. We dined a few days since at Mr Prescotts – a very splendid [p. 4] dinner of nearly thirty persons, ladies & gentlemen, in honor of his son’s engagement to Miss Augusta Peabody, sister of Mrs Loring. There was great beauty among the ladies (all the Mrs Peabody are handsome) & the fiancée very fair) and a great splendor of dress & jewels. We dined in his fine Library adjoining the drawing-rooms, & he performed the host with his usual boyish gaiety. Payson (Miss Devens’ cousin) is recently engaged to another Miss Peabody & tho’ his lady was not present from illness he made himself a very agreeable neighbor to me. All the young people are interested in a fancy ball which takes place this week & Henry’s Spanish dress will figure on the occasion (but not on himself) & my fancy one.
Tom has been passing some weeks with us – a lively addition to our quiet & takes great delight in his country walks - & the amusing talk of a Farrieritish Polish Count who comes, here every Saturday ev’g & is like an epitome of Europe. He (the Count) is eager to have Sam Eliot made Professor of History instead of the defeated Bowen. Sumner bears very patiently his suspended fate.
[p. 1 cross] Louisa Bullard sent you her card which I ought perhaps to have forwarded. Her reception (the wedding) went off very brilliantly, all Boston coming out. They sailed a few days after with Jane in the Havre steamer The children are pretty well (Erny is still delicate) & send you their love. Pray come & see us when you can. Willy Longfellow passed a Sunday with us lately – from his Medford school a nice boy. “Reveries of a Bachelor” is worth reading, a true book of the heart.
ever yrs affly
Fanny L
Feb 24th 1851.
Dear Sam
Saturday being Washington’s birthday & my baby just five months old that day, we thought we would celebrate it by her christening which was accordingly done, and it went off so pleasantly I wish I had written to urge you to be present. But the truth is it was too trying an occasion to me to bear many witnesses and I asked no one but the family. Dr Francis officiated as usual very feelingly, & gave her the name of Alice Mary – the former because it occurred often in my father’s family in former days & there is an Alice Archer in yours - & because we like it, & thought it well to revive it, & the [p. 2] latter was added at the last moment, because desired by so many. It was a very solemn & painful moment to me & my darling was truly baptized in her mother’s tears – may they keep her pure from sin – but it is a ceremony I love & reverence & would not put aside. She behaved beautifully, looking about most intelligently, and is, I think, the brightest, merriest & strongest baby I have ever had. We had some ice in the dining room, Washington’s bust crowned with evergreen looking pleasantly down upon us, & the table adorned with a finely frosted christening cake & beautiful bouquet brought by Miss Goodwin. Jewett was present having arrived to accompany papa in a fortnight to Antigua, to see my sister & escape east winds – thence [p. 3] to England for the great Fair, there being fine steamers all the way. The safety of the Atlantic has thrilled us all with such joy as I never saw so general in the community before at such an event, - for the anxiety was so prolonged & the fears so great. I confess I was very hopeless thinking it about time for some accident, & having little faith in the soundness of our boats. The Wadsworths were in great distress – for they all lean upon James - & his beautiful wife was n N. York almost in despair when he suddenly appeared before her. Fortunately his sister Mrs Murray, for whose wedding he was away, did not feel the same anxiety hearing sooner of his safety – but those here had the thought of her suffering added to their own. We dined a few days since at Mr Prescotts – a very splendid [p. 4] dinner of nearly thirty persons, ladies & gentlemen, in honor of his son’s engagement to Miss Augusta Peabody, sister of Mrs Loring. There was great beauty among the ladies (all the Mrs Peabody are handsome) & the fiancée very fair) and a great splendor of dress & jewels. We dined in his fine Library adjoining the drawing-rooms, & he performed the host with his usual boyish gaiety. Payson (Miss Devens’ cousin) is recently engaged to another Miss Peabody & tho’ his lady was not present from illness he made himself a very agreeable neighbor to me. All the young people are interested in a fancy ball which takes place this week & Henry’s Spanish dress will figure on the occasion (but not on himself) & my fancy one.
Tom has been passing some weeks with us – a lively addition to our quiet & takes great delight in his country walks - & the amusing talk of a Farrieritish Polish Count who comes, here every Saturday ev’g & is like an epitome of Europe. He (the Count) is eager to have Sam Eliot made Professor of History instead of the defeated Bowen. Sumner bears very patiently his suspended fate.
[p. 1 cross] Louisa Bullard sent you her card which I ought perhaps to have forwarded. Her reception (the wedding) went off very brilliantly, all Boston coming out. They sailed a few days after with Jane in the Havre steamer The children are pretty well (Erny is still delicate) & send you their love. Pray come & see us when you can. Willy Longfellow passed a Sunday with us lately – from his Medford school a nice boy. “Reveries of a Bachelor” is worth reading, a true book of the heart.
ever yrs affly
Fanny L
Archives Number: 1011/002.001-021#006
U. S. National Park Service
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Correspondence (1011/002), (LONG-SeriesName)
, Letters from Frances Longfellow (1011/002.001), (LONG-SubseriesName)
, 1851 (1011/002.001-021), (LONG-FileUnitName)
, Letters from Frances Longfellow (1011/002.001), (LONG-SubseriesName)
, 1851 (1011/002.001-021), (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
2016-01-30
02/24/1851
Manuscript letter in Frances Appleton Longfellow Papers, Series II. Correspondence, A. Outgoing, 1851. (1011/002.001-021#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
Wednesday, November 9, 2022 5:48:00 PM
Wednesday, November 9, 2022 5:48:00 PM
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