File:Frances (Appleton) Longfellow to Anne Longfellow Pierce, 17 July 1852 (7b26b84e-7b96-4c6f-9a89-cdd088013674).jpg

Manuscript letter

Archives Number: 1011/002.001-022#018

Newport. July 17th 1852.
Dear Annie,
This quiet, rainy day gives me an opportunity to send you news of us for which you have doubtless long been looking. We have been now a fortnight in this pleasant place & are all thriving in its delicious climate where oppressive summer heat is unknown & the harshness of east winds likewise. It is always temperate & gently invigorating, & even the salt sea has an Italian softness & warmth unknown to our coast.
We are delightfully situated on the clover-scented cliffs with nothing but turf between us & the sea & a most extensive view of the latter from our windows. Upon these cliffs you can walk for miles with a [p. 2] constant enjoyment of the foaming rocks under you & with the large bathing beach within a few minutes walk & in full sight. The newer, fashionable part of the town is separated from us by green fields so that we are wholly free from the dust which prevails there, & do not even feel the neighborhood of the huge fantastic Ocean House which looms in our rear. Our house is spacious & in fresh order & filled with a few very agreeable friends of ours. Mrs Robert Sedgwick of New York, a most intelligent & refined lady, her lively daughter, & son Ellery with his pleasant wife & famous baby we enjoy much – also the Benzons, a very nice little German couple who give us excellent music. The Howadji Mr Curtis, is to join us & we have two rooms besides desiring occupants which complete our number. The children are very happy here with their cousins & fine walks & are kept at their lessons by Miss Davie [p. 3] my sister’s governess – a great relief to me. Poor baby looks very thin with her teething but is quite well & very droll with her new words. The only drawback is the constant visiting but as we have seen chiefly old friends it has been very pleasant thus far, & parties we shall feel at perfect liberty to eschew as much as we like. So I trust the gaiety wont annoy us. My sister has already gained vigor, & enjoys meeting scattered acquaintances. The drives in the island are very pretty & I wish you were here that I could introduce you to them. Henry & I made a pilgrimage yesterday to Dr Channings summer retreat, a little Eden of foliage & flowers & seclusion, so associated with him that it was rather painful to me to go there, & to see his sister-in-laws chaplain, an Episcopal clergyman, at the door, the Dr’s modest little church where he preached with such beautiful simplicity to the before untaught farmers [p. 4] shut up & the new Gothic one flourishing in its stead. We then went to the Glen, a lovely ravine with a brown brook singing in it, & to Bishop Berkley’s house a retired farm-house fit for quiet meditation. There is a great display here on Sunday of dashing private equipages & elegantly dressed ladies, but we go to the modest church of Mr Brooks to escape it all.
Henry was obliged to return to Cambridge last Saturday for an Examination & brought me back the sad news of Mary’s illness. I trust she is now better. I was so sorry to see so little of her. We were in all the agonies of packing & could not get to her house but wished she could have come more to ours. What do you hear from Sam? My uncle wrote him that he need not return with Charles & that he had heard Mr Sturgis wished such a friend for his boy & hoped he would finish his tour with him. I fancy you often driving out to see Alex & Lizzie in their new home. Give our love to them with best wishes for the success of their rural life. Henry sends [p. 1 cross] his, with mine, to you & Aunt Lucia, & my sister also begs to be remembered. How does Sophia manage her parish & children?
ever yr loving
Fanny E.L.

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