File:Frances (Appleton) Longfellow to Nathan Appleton, 1 March 1850 (9dd66acb-9a32-4812-a407-5f342bb47406).jpg

Manuscript letter

Archives Number: 1011/002.001-020#006

Cambridge March 1st 1850
Dearest papa,
I trust this finds you wholly free from your influenza & much enjoying the balmy Southern air. The last week has been with us, also, perfectly southern, wonderfully mild & genial, & tho’ today we have a sprinkling of snow on the ground it is fast melting away.
I suppose you have wondered what had become of the letters from abroad, but the fact is none have made their appearance, & I have delayed writing from day to day thinking they still might reach me.
Tom is possibly in Paris, and [p. 2] therefore missed the mail, & Mary you know rarely makes the exertion. Harriot you have probably heard from altho’ I have not, but today I hope to see her unless hse has been tempted to prolong her visit.
Your voyage was not I trust very uncomfortable, tho’ pretty rough the sea must have been after the winds of the previous days. How did poor Jewett survive it? Did it revive too forcibly his ancient miseries?
We shall soon hope to hear all about it & yourselves. If you find political excitement too warm to make Charleston society quite agreeable I suppose you will slip away to Havana & “lose the creeping hours of time” in that tropical [p. 3] Elysium. Mrs P. Parker says Deacon finds the heat there almost too intense this mild season, so perhaps you had better not delay too long, but then you can bear heat better than he probably, & there must be always some sea-breezes.
Our vacation is over & Henry is today again in harness – poor Pegasus’ fate sometimes, despite his wings.
I can think of no news to send you. Mr Winthrop is still in Boston - His sister Mrs Warner is dying – of dropsy, with which she has been long afflicted. It will be a severe loss for the poor Dr, now he is growing old & his children are all married.
Tomorrow we dine at Aunt Sm’s, & shall drink your [p. 4] healths with flowing bumpers –
I wish you could have heard Fanny Kemble read the other night “Twelfth Night-“ You would have much enjoyed her inimitable Malvolio, Heaviana, & Sir Andrew. Mrs Siddons never could have equaled her in variety of powers, & in dignity & pathos she cannot come far behind her wonderful Aunt.
Willy passed Sunday with us & behaved with discretion.
I see poor Bartolini is dead & had a most honorable funeral. He was so much of a republican these latter days probably broke his heart.
Pray remember us to Pringle- & to the Liebers if you see them. Kind regards to Jewett. With Henry’s love ever Yr affte
Fanny E.L.
ENDORSED: FANNY MARCH 1, 1853

• Keywords: correspondence; long archives; frances e. a. longfellow papers (long 20257); frances elizabeth (appleton) longfellow; people; document; events; death; subject; social life; health and illness; Correspondence (1011/002); (LONG-SeriesName); Letters from Frances Longfellow (1011/002.001); (LONG-SubseriesName); 1850 (1011/002.001-020); (LONG-FileUnitName)