File:Frances (Appleton) Longfellow to Emmeline (Austin) Wadsworth, 24 July 1849 (878fc1b2-2ab3-4d7e-b955-836a5d85f638).jpg

Manuscript letter

Archives Number: 1011/002.001-019#015

Portland July 24th 1849.
Dearest Em
I was very glad to hear you had survived those few intolerably hot days, & hope that you have enjoyed since then the coolness we have here. The south wind, with us so disagreeable, is here a delicious one, pure & fresh like those of autumn, coming from the sea without the rawness of the east - & is more frequent than any other. But for the dust, I could not desire a pleasanter atmosphere, but as this street is not watered it is very annoying, covering our books like meal, the clouds still refusing us any rain. Your shady woodland retreats rise very attractively before my mind’s eye, & I shall soon drive over to Oak Grove, where we were summer before last, to refresh [p. 2] myself with its turf & trees.
Henry’s father has not changed perceptibly since we came, a fortnight today. He still lies perfectly tranquil & silent, unable to move or speak but very little tho’ this morning he brightened as I stood by his bedside, & said “Ah Fanny how do you feel today?” – the longest sentence he has spoken for three weeks. There is something beautiful & holy in the silence & cheerfulness of his sick chamber, Mary & Annie gliding about & performing the slight offices he requires. Anne Sophia, a cousin of Henry’s, is also there, so that we have abundant & willing hands – Stephen, Sam, Alex, James & Henry take turns in watching. I am there nearly all day, & thus quietly the time goes on, all waiting patiently for the decay of nature, or its possible revival. Judge Fay, one of his classmates, was here last night, enquiring for him, looking so young & brisk, & in [p. 3] great admiration of Portland where he has not been since forty years, & talked much of the beauty of the damsels in those & still earlier days – Mrs Sumner & her sisters &c. As I walked thro the street where Mrs Derby first shone & Mrs Bradbury, who was a great belle, I try to recall their youthful figures. The damsels here are pretty still, & very dressy, appearing in muslin visites & light gloves early in the morning, with sacks of every shape & material. I call it the sacked city, for never did I see such quantities of this ungraceful garment, - many of linen, embroidered, sometimes without sleeves! & hideous in the extreme.
The children yesterday were highly entertained with the entrée of Van Anburgh & his caravan, whose tents are picturesquely pitched on the hill which overlooks the town. We walked up there this morning, hoping to get a private peep at the beasts, but [p. 4] they refused all admittance except for the regular exhibition. Erny, I am sure, will take to his heels at the first roar of the lion, & bury his face in “his Mamy’s” gown, but he is very brave about it at present. The other day, he brought me newspaper with a head of some quack doctor upon it & pointing to it said – “Mamma that is God.”! As I have never given him any image of the Deity his imagination did not certainly show itself very lively in this instance.
We have heard from Mackintosh that Mary sailed for England in the steamer of the 12th June, & trust she has safely arrived long ere this. Tom was in London to meet her. What a dreadful thing is the wreck made by the Europa! Bennet Forbes showed his usual presence of mind & energetic benevolence. What a spectacle for the Peabodys, Bates &c on board the steamer! What a shadow has fallen upon poor Cora Shaw’s sunny life in the death of her father. I remember how cheerfully she spoke of his return, having no knowledge of his illness. I am glad you so [p. 1 cross] liked Sumner’s Address. It is perhaps the strongest thing he has done, & with Cobden in England & so many Peace Congresses I hope something will be done to make nations feel war to be as criminal as a duel.
Poor Rome! I have watched with intense interest her fate, & deeply deplore her surrender. Eternal shame rests upon France
Henry sends much love – Mine to Lizzy & Wm
ever yr loving
Fanny E.L.

• Keywords: correspondence; long archives; frances e. a. longfellow papers (long 20257); frances elizabeth (appleton) longfellow; people; document; me; united states; portland; places; subject; family life; health and illness; social life; Correspondence (1011/002); (LONG-SeriesName); Letters from Frances Longfellow (1011/002.001); (LONG-SubseriesName); 1849 (1011/002.001-019); (LONG-FileUnitName)