File:Frances (Appleton) Longfellow to Nathan Appleton, 16 July 1852 (9849dce8-3728-4452-ac5e-acdf59dd1ceb).jpg

Manuscript letter

Archives Number: 1011/002.001-022#017

Cliff House Newport
July 16th 1852
Dear papa,
Your most agreeable letter delighted us much, & we are very glad the good air of Berkshire has so revived your spirits. Whether you write little or much it is always so welcome that we do not measure the number of words. I should have thanked you sooner for those pleasant lines, but Mary having just written I thought I would wait a little.
I am sure you would enjoy this climate, if here – thro’ all this hot weather we have had a delicious breeze blowing which tempers the influence of the sun so much that it is never felt as elsewhere, neither has it the sharp [p. 2] ness of Nahant where you are sometimes frozen on one side & broiled on the other. With all this softness I feel no languor but can exercise without fatigue. Our walk upon the cliff is a great gain over the dust-surrounded town people & I still think our situation the finest here. It is not quite so exposed as Beech Lawrences & has all its advantages.
We have seen many pleasant people, chiefly old acquaintances, & find in our own household society enough. Mrs Norton made a very small, informal party for us, & last night we took a sociable tea with Mrs Ritchie, meeting Mrs James Otis, Sophia Thorndike (entirely unchanged in appearance) Mrs Pringle & Mary Appleton. My Mary enjoys these quiet visitings, & is already much invigorated by being here. [p. 3] She drives with us nearly every day & was out this morning before breakfast on the Cliff!
Henry & I took advantage of a glorious morning yesterday, after a fine shower, to explore the island, which he has never seen. We went to Miss Gibbs,’ where every thing so recalled Dr Channing that it brought back his loss afresh to me & I was almost pained to see his little church closed & a new one built by Miss Gibbs, of another creed, flourishing instead, & at the porch of his house her clergyman. We then drove to the pretty Glen which is like a bit of Berkshire with its murmuring brook & massed trees, & finished off with Bishop Berkeley’s house where there is nothing to be seen but the situation so suggestive of quiet meditation. Please tell Harriet her charming friend Miss Wainwright came to see me a [p. 4] few days after we arrived & we went directly to call upon her mother. She was taking her usual sleep but her daughter, in spite of her anxious care, looked fresh & blowing & as happy as a bird. She says her mother is much better & gaining daily.
Mrs Derby has been to see me. Miss Looly grown to a young lady & a very pretty one. I suppose you have heard of the new Boston engagements. The Otis’ seem enchanted with Miss Emily’s good fortune in securing such an excellent fellow as Sam Eliot - & it is hoped the Lowells will like as well Miss Emerson.
My brain is so sleepy with the sea air that I cannot write you anything amusing. Tom is very lively & agreeable, & is quite the life of the house The Benzens have come & we only lack the Howadji & occupants for two rooms to have our number complete. As we must pay for them we are naturally impatient to fill them. Good bye with [p. 1 cross] love to Harriet & the chicks. ever yr Affte Fanny E.L.
In what paper was Mr Webster’s letter? We have not seen it.

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