File:Frances (Appleton) Longfellow and Thomas Gold Appleton to Nathan Appleton and Harriot Coffin (Sumner) Appleton, 1 September 1841 (cbe82a8e-9b97-4ea1-8d99-004b97a73bdc).jpg

Manuscript letter

Archives Number: 1011/002.001-011#022

Eastbourne. – September 1st 1841.
Dear Father,
We shift our scene as often as Shakespeare in his historical Plays, and now we are enacting the mia in his Lear under the high cliffs between Low and Beachy head
After having tried Tunbridge Wells and St Leonards near Hastings. we think Eastbourne the quietist and nicest of the three, and here we shall probably remain till it is time for us to go back to London for the Steamer. –
Eastbourne is a small, little-visited town, cut off from the Brighton side by lofty downs whereon roam immense flocks of the rial Southdown and to the East stretches a long level of sand and marshes dotted with Martello towers built against Bonapartes invasion, and bounded by the blue hills of Hastings. About half way are the very picturesque ruins of Pevensey Castle as old as the Conqueror, and when he landed. – What is curious they were then washed by the sea and now it is a mile & a half off. . – We [??] [???] now a whole house, just large enough, from which we get a bit of the sea wind all around wave fields of yellowest grain, now ready for the sickles, and much already cut drying in the sun. Near us an Lord Burlington’s woods and charming meadows, through which he permits people to pass and which make, often, the beginning of agreeable walks for Fanny and me; sometimes along an overlooking hillside, waving with wind-mills, and [??]ting [p. 2] up to the Downs to get the upper air and look at the turf traps the Shepherds place for the Wheat ear, a sort of English outlaw which we find too little to be good. I have seen Shepherds now with real crooks a [??[ing – hard thoughts gone by. – Robert fortunately found in the clergyman Mr Hughes now, an old Oxford acquaintance and he is very civil to us sending Mary ripe figs and calling often. He gave us an excellent sermon last Sunday in a new Church built all of pebbles a fashion for walls and homes almost universal now. It looks very neat and pretty the stones being of the same size and color, but Mr Hughes says [crossed out: they are] it is pervious to to [sic] wet more than ordinary stone work. Mary likes this village very well [?] is arranging to take sea baths, which she yet has not done, our house being some distance from the seaside for now, though Fanny & I by going down a lane opposite us are at once upon a pretty beach, where we read and draw enormous figures of [???] and [???] [crossed out: so we a] upon the smooth sand to make the Fishermen & little boys wonder.
We got at Tunbridge Wells letters from you and you express wishes that Mary should come from with us. Either she or Robert have written you about it but I think the trouble of the going might be too vexatious and fatiguing to Mary, who seems quite comfortable when quiet, but who is made nervous by what would be no exertion to an other. – Mary has some [crossed out: what] desire to keep Fanny but [crossed out: Marys [??]] time is now too far on to allow us to hear your opinion or to nullify the passage preparations. I now make way for her to say something to Mrs A in which she can tell her own story. – I do not hear any thing about the prints I sent by Mr Rogers to Uncle W. Has he [??] them? Love to the baby & his mother Ucle Sam and if Wadsworth is in town tell him to wait till I get back.
[p. 3] Dear Harriet, I believe I have not thanked you for one or two kind letters & should do so now, in fitter style were not our budget already so bulky. My thoughts have often wandered from this lovely land, where we have been seeing much of stirring interest lately in the way of venerable Castles & Abbeys as Tom has told you, to your piazza at Nahant – where I hope your summer has been gliding away as agreeably as at Newport – as I am sure it must with so many of your friends near you & Willie so flourishing. You may be assured I have not urged Mary faintly to return with me, especially as Father seems so desirous of it, & as I have sometimes hoped a voyage would benefit her more than any-thing but her nerves are so sensitive to noise, bustle & the seeing many people that it is difficult to predict what is best, - & perhaps it would be wiser, on all accounts, for her to defer it to the Spring wh[en] I trust they will have thrown off this distressing weakness.
She is troubled so much when I speak of returning that I am puzzled how to act about it. I cannot remain without Father’s express permission, & as she says she has written to request it must abide his decision in patience. On his account, who might miss me during the winter, & on my dear Emmeline’s, to whom a longer absence would I know give some pain, I am drawn toward home, & yet it will be hard to part with Mary while she can glean any comfort from my presence. She has had some thougts of passing the winter in Italy, &, tho’ that is a great temptation on many accounts, I fear the climate would be too damp & relaxing for her while needing strength peculiarly. I expect to see Willie a little, living Murillo with his dark eyes & nut-brown locks, - a great contrast to our fair laddie here who is not losing his pearly complexion in spite of constant exposure to this sea-air [p. 4 bottom] & dun, altho’ he blushes ‘rosy red’ at the least exertion. Their characters are equally unlike, - yours so penseroso & quiet & gentle & Master Ronald all activity & restlessness & jollity. He has had his six teeth with the greatest of ease & makes use of them to utter all manner of half meanings – shouting ‘go ‘way’ in deep gutterals to all the donkies he sees, (as thick here as sea-weed & about as living) or laughing with the heartiness of a grown man. He is not so pretty as Willie but will be a handsomer boy than baby I am convinced. You do not tell us how the Wells’ [sic] find Potters this year & what all our other friend [p. 4 top] area about there & elsewhere. Whether another Judge Carlton enacts the cavaliere servente to disconsolate widows & sentimental damsels, &, in fact, the many straws that ripple summer life with you are, remember, worth picking up when you make up yr monthly sheaf. We shall have letters tomorrow & hope to hear more details – Are you in mourning for Aunt Aaron? Here we see no one, so have made no change but if all the family have done so & I return I should like to be informed. I never remember to have seen her but believe [p. 1 cross] she has suffered so long from ill health that it is not a death to be deeply regretted. Give my kindest regards to your Father & Mother, Mrs Arnold Wells, Mrs Eliot & to all your friends that kindly enquire after me. Much love to dearest Papa & kisses to Willie from us all. affectionately yrs Fanny –
I have not written more particularly about Mary’s health as I believe she will do so herself. I think she looks much better but then her strength is wall as looks are sadly variable
ADDRESSED: HON N. APPLETON
ENDORSED: T.G.A. – FANNY A / SEPT. 41.

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