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Peleg Wadsworth to Zilpah (Wadsworth) Longfellow, 29 March 1796
Manuscript letter
Philadelphia 29th March1796
Tuesday Morng 8 OClock
The Brightness & Serenity of the Morng my Zilpah puts me in a mind of my promise to give You some Account of our last Saturday’s Ride – that day & this being very much alike –
Our party consisted of Govr. Robinson, Mr Smith of Vermont & your Papa. the Ladies were all our Family, Miss Edith, Miss Eliza. miss Anna & little miss polly* who very luckily & naturally took it into her head to think that she was invited too - & before Any One thot of it she was into the Coach with Us – she had so much Glee in her Countenance –
* nine years old.
(p. 2) that every One seem’d pleas’d with her mistake & seem’d to enjoy the happiness discoverable in Face. I think She added much to the Satisfac-tion of the day – I am Sure I should not have enjoy’d myself so much without her –
We started from our Lodging about 11 OClock. The Morng was very fine but a little cool withall[sic] – not disagreeable so – As I had not ^ scarcely been out of the City this Spring, the Sight of the Country round the City afforded an agreable prospect – the Lands how-ever in the Vicinity of this City are under less Cultivation than any other in like Situation that I know of, - (p. 3) & Some Ruins of desolated Buildings, the sad remains of War, were still to be seen. The roads were very fine & in about an hour we ariv’d[sic] all in high Glee & good humour at the Environs of Germantown; which is a Country Village or rather street of three or four Miles in length well set with Houses, all built with stone, small, midling[sic] (& some) large, & elegant. the Country hereabouts is under high Cultivation, being inhabited by that Industrious & Economical People the Germans – This Town is famous For the Bat-tle that was fought there when Genl Washing-ton attempted to Surprise the British Army in their Encampment – of which I will say more by & by – At half after 12 we land ^ allighted[sic] at the Inn at which it was proposed to dine - (p. 4) But as they had ^ no notice of our Coming & as it would necessarily take several Hours to make preparation ^ for Dinner & being all in a humour to enjoy ourselves abroad, after taking something by way of refresh-ment, such as mull’d Wine, mull’d Brandy, & a little Biscuit & Butter by way of preventative, we stept into the Carriage & proceeded on the Same Rout in order to view the Battle Ground, & to amuse ourselves with seeing the Country – If the day was fine before it was beau-tiful now – The Refreshment had added new Spirits to our good humour & had You been with us, You would have thot we were a merry Company – but vastly civil however – Thus we went on about three
[Note:] Papas Letter March 29 ’96. / Portland. / Germantown / letter for Sam
Tuesday Morng 8 OClock
The Brightness & Serenity of the Morng my Zilpah puts me in a mind of my promise to give You some Account of our last Saturday’s Ride – that day & this being very much alike –
Our party consisted of Govr. Robinson, Mr Smith of Vermont & your Papa. the Ladies were all our Family, Miss Edith, Miss Eliza. miss Anna & little miss polly* who very luckily & naturally took it into her head to think that she was invited too - & before Any One thot of it she was into the Coach with Us – she had so much Glee in her Countenance –
* nine years old.
(p. 2) that every One seem’d pleas’d with her mistake & seem’d to enjoy the happiness discoverable in Face. I think She added much to the Satisfac-tion of the day – I am Sure I should not have enjoy’d myself so much without her –
We started from our Lodging about 11 OClock. The Morng was very fine but a little cool withall[sic] – not disagreeable so – As I had not ^ scarcely been out of the City this Spring, the Sight of the Country round the City afforded an agreable prospect – the Lands how-ever in the Vicinity of this City are under less Cultivation than any other in like Situation that I know of, - (p. 3) & Some Ruins of desolated Buildings, the sad remains of War, were still to be seen. The roads were very fine & in about an hour we ariv’d[sic] all in high Glee & good humour at the Environs of Germantown; which is a Country Village or rather street of three or four Miles in length well set with Houses, all built with stone, small, midling[sic] (& some) large, & elegant. the Country hereabouts is under high Cultivation, being inhabited by that Industrious & Economical People the Germans – This Town is famous For the Bat-tle that was fought there when Genl Washing-ton attempted to Surprise the British Army in their Encampment – of which I will say more by & by – At half after 12 we land ^ allighted[sic] at the Inn at which it was proposed to dine - (p. 4) But as they had ^ no notice of our Coming & as it would necessarily take several Hours to make preparation ^ for Dinner & being all in a humour to enjoy ourselves abroad, after taking something by way of refresh-ment, such as mull’d Wine, mull’d Brandy, & a little Biscuit & Butter by way of preventative, we stept into the Carriage & proceeded on the Same Rout in order to view the Battle Ground, & to amuse ourselves with seeing the Country – If the day was fine before it was beau-tiful now – The Refreshment had added new Spirits to our good humour & had You been with us, You would have thot we were a merry Company – but vastly civil however – Thus we went on about three
[Note:] Papas Letter March 29 ’96. / Portland. / Germantown / letter for Sam
Archives Number: 1005/4.1.1-03#42
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#42)
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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
03/29/1796
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#42)
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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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