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Frances (Appleton) Longfellow to Reverend Samuel Longfellow, 31 August 1851
Manuscript letter
Nahant. Aug 31st. 1851.
Dear Sam
This lovely morning finds you I hope upon English ground, enjoying the delightful sound of her church-going bells & choral birds and the silent rejoicing of every living thing. After the dreary sea, for with all its rich variety of color & expression it is dreary & seems to want human sympathies, how you will enjoy beautiful England – even the glimpse you get of it, with its perfection of verdure & horticulture – [crossed out: even] its very ruins seeming to array themselves becomingly to be admired.
I intended to write you a farewell note enclosing a letter of introduction to Mrs Rich, but not feeling well the week you sailed, it was left undone. As I am quite uncertain where she is now I will send it when [p. 2] you can have a better opportunity to cultivate her most agreeable society. I was very glad Henry saw you off in good spirits, & trust the first day’s sea-sickness did not dispel them utterly. If the vision of Europe did not loom upon the horizon to cheer one on, the voyage, to those that suffer a sea-change, must be hard to bear. How did Charley survive it? – his first experience of the world’s roughness.
I hoped to have a glimpse of the steamer possibly here, & wandered on to Mrs Parkman’s piazza, & by the help of an opera-glass, beheld it apparently stationary but could not wait long enough to see it move.
Yesterday Henry resumed his College duties, but we shall remain here a fortnight longer, as I dread returning to Cambridge too early with the children at this sickly season. They are now supremely happy in the possession of two white rabbits [p. 3] purchased of a boy who brought them from Lynn for sale, & they feed them - & play with them all day long. They had a very pretty childs party at Mrs Charles Amory’s where Charley flourished in his first quadrille – also one at Mrs Strongs – who has constantly her house full of pleasant guests. Emerson has promised her a visit. Cranch is still here with a gentle, poetical looking wife & a little girl named Leonora – born at Sorrento!
You will see, by the papers, we are in the midst of another Cuban excitement. The shooting of our invaders, who as pirates deserved their doom, is rousing sympathy meetings everywhere, tho the papers, nearly all, support the government. But things look troublesome. The South is resolved to get Cuba at any hazard – but the Cubans have not courage to meet them half way. The Tornado in Medford was a wonderful visitation for so northerly a region. Houses were scat [p. 4] tered like chaff & everything ploughed up in its way. It is fearful to know what an enemy the familiar elements may become – what latent force they all have, or rather I should say, we should be grateful they are so friendly being capable of doing us so much harm. I am thankful it did not come more in our direction, for it would not have respected our goodly roof unless it were strong enough to resist it. Trees - & carpets were equally rolled into heaps – but as I have not seen it I cannot give you any details beyond what the papers furnish. Mr Pierpont, who suffered much destruction of property, preached an eloquent sermon upon the phenomenon.
Sep 1st – I finish my letter this first day of autumn & a fresh one it is with the sea of the true “dolce color del oriental zaffiro,” but such a soft southern sunset we have had last night Emerson enjoying it with us upon Mrs Story’s rocks. I have so associated him with winter & close lecture-rooms it was quite strange to see his angular figure against that Italian sky. You find, or have found, London comparatively deserted I suppose. My [p. 1 cross] father seems to be enjoying country quiet near Windsor where Mrs A. was glad to retire to recover from illness. I hope you will see them either there or in Paris –
Give our best love to Charles & pray let us hear from you often, for no one takes a livelier interest in your enjoyment than
yr affte sister
Fanny
Young Mr Codman was in despair at losing sight of you & kisses baby when he meets her “for her Uncle’s sake”!
Dear Sam
This lovely morning finds you I hope upon English ground, enjoying the delightful sound of her church-going bells & choral birds and the silent rejoicing of every living thing. After the dreary sea, for with all its rich variety of color & expression it is dreary & seems to want human sympathies, how you will enjoy beautiful England – even the glimpse you get of it, with its perfection of verdure & horticulture – [crossed out: even] its very ruins seeming to array themselves becomingly to be admired.
I intended to write you a farewell note enclosing a letter of introduction to Mrs Rich, but not feeling well the week you sailed, it was left undone. As I am quite uncertain where she is now I will send it when [p. 2] you can have a better opportunity to cultivate her most agreeable society. I was very glad Henry saw you off in good spirits, & trust the first day’s sea-sickness did not dispel them utterly. If the vision of Europe did not loom upon the horizon to cheer one on, the voyage, to those that suffer a sea-change, must be hard to bear. How did Charley survive it? – his first experience of the world’s roughness.
I hoped to have a glimpse of the steamer possibly here, & wandered on to Mrs Parkman’s piazza, & by the help of an opera-glass, beheld it apparently stationary but could not wait long enough to see it move.
Yesterday Henry resumed his College duties, but we shall remain here a fortnight longer, as I dread returning to Cambridge too early with the children at this sickly season. They are now supremely happy in the possession of two white rabbits [p. 3] purchased of a boy who brought them from Lynn for sale, & they feed them - & play with them all day long. They had a very pretty childs party at Mrs Charles Amory’s where Charley flourished in his first quadrille – also one at Mrs Strongs – who has constantly her house full of pleasant guests. Emerson has promised her a visit. Cranch is still here with a gentle, poetical looking wife & a little girl named Leonora – born at Sorrento!
You will see, by the papers, we are in the midst of another Cuban excitement. The shooting of our invaders, who as pirates deserved their doom, is rousing sympathy meetings everywhere, tho the papers, nearly all, support the government. But things look troublesome. The South is resolved to get Cuba at any hazard – but the Cubans have not courage to meet them half way. The Tornado in Medford was a wonderful visitation for so northerly a region. Houses were scat [p. 4] tered like chaff & everything ploughed up in its way. It is fearful to know what an enemy the familiar elements may become – what latent force they all have, or rather I should say, we should be grateful they are so friendly being capable of doing us so much harm. I am thankful it did not come more in our direction, for it would not have respected our goodly roof unless it were strong enough to resist it. Trees - & carpets were equally rolled into heaps – but as I have not seen it I cannot give you any details beyond what the papers furnish. Mr Pierpont, who suffered much destruction of property, preached an eloquent sermon upon the phenomenon.
Sep 1st – I finish my letter this first day of autumn & a fresh one it is with the sea of the true “dolce color del oriental zaffiro,” but such a soft southern sunset we have had last night Emerson enjoying it with us upon Mrs Story’s rocks. I have so associated him with winter & close lecture-rooms it was quite strange to see his angular figure against that Italian sky. You find, or have found, London comparatively deserted I suppose. My [p. 1 cross] father seems to be enjoying country quiet near Windsor where Mrs A. was glad to retire to recover from illness. I hope you will see them either there or in Paris –
Give our best love to Charles & pray let us hear from you often, for no one takes a livelier interest in your enjoyment than
yr affte sister
Fanny
Young Mr Codman was in despair at losing sight of you & kisses baby when he meets her “for her Uncle’s sake”!
Archives Number: 1011/002.001-021#031
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
08/31/1851
Manuscript letter in Frances Appleton Longfellow Papers, Series II. Correspondence, A. Outgoing, 1851. (1011/002.001-021#031)
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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 5:44:30 PM
Wednesday, November 9, 2022 5:44:30 PM
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