File:Frances (Appleton) Longfellow to Nathan Appleton, 16 July 1855 (95aa0215-7c5f-4eea-86d8-2b2e38220ad8).jpg

Manuscript letter

Archives Number: 1011/002.001-025#015

Newport Monday
Dear papa,
I send you Mary’s last. Tom forgot to bring yours so I was glad to get this. It is too bad that Robert lingers so – I wish the doctor would order him off. In his weakened state a tropical summer super-added to fever will, I fear, really undermine his fine constitution.
Yesterday was autumnal, as doubtless with you, - a relief after the heat but too great a change for comfort. We [p. 2] had a sea south-wind to make endurable those extreme days, but Henry rejoiced his duty did not call him to the fiery martyrdom of Cambridge at Commencement. Beecher’s oration must have been excellent – a kind of apology for his own style of, at times, too great jocosity.
We dined with the Brook’s on Saturday, who also were at Boston in that heat, & had a very elegant little dinner with the Davis’ (Jack Downing) of N. York & the Slidells of N. Orleans. Their house is very complete, furnished with city splendour of carpets, curtains &c, blue satin in the drawing-room & crimson satin [p. 3] in the dining-room, & adorned with all their pretty things & works of Art. There is great space & comfort, but the rooms are too low for such show. The bedrooms are most comfortable, with ample fauteuils & sofas, & there is an English look about the whole house, with a pretty lawn, gay with flowers, behind & the harbour for a view. These dinner & tea-drinkings we think rather a tax, however, in this sleepy, lazy climate, & we find our three bachelors & our piazza chats so agreeable we lament when we are picked off from them. We had a pleasant evening at the Robeson’s with new people – Powells, - Bayards & New Yorkers - & this with our Ban [p. 4] croft ev’g & one at the Bruens completes our present dissipation. The beach has been very brilliant with equipages the last few days, & it was delightful those warm ev’gs – tho’ ti does not compare with that of Nahant as beach.
Tom growls at the dinners & goes. I hope he will keep well. Felton & Agassiz are at Sumners.
We have a pew at Mr Brook’s but he is not well eno’ to preach, a Mr Tenny does it for him & ‘with great acceptance’ as the saying is. Emmeline & her boy filled the pew with us yesterday. She is rather solitary I fear in her lonely cottage & I hope will get often to us. Tell Hatty I saw Annie Grant – longing for her. The boys find some school-mates here & are more content. The engraving of you Tom brought is most admirable.
[p. 1 cross] We are buried in mist today. Mr Bayard is smoking with Henry on the piazza. Tom out making calls. Curtis ditto. & I expecting momently to be interrupted by a summons to receive somebody. Good bye. When will you come? Love to H. Mrs Sumner & the chicks.
Affly yrs
Fanny E.L.
ENDORSED: F.E.L. / JULY

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