File:Frances (Appleton) Longfellow to Reverend Samuel Longfellow, 20 November 1848 (a0cb9964-00b9-47c3-bbff-dbe588a96dc4).jpg

Manuscript letter

Archives Number: 1011/002.001-017#033

Cambridge Monday
Dear Sam, What are you about in these wintry days? Warming your heart with pure & holy thoughts & the kindling hope of being a builder in the new Jerusalem?
Happy indeed must that make you, if not crushed by too much discouragement, & exciting to painful a contrast between the possible future, which we cannot live to overlook, & the wilderness where your people will so often [???]mur, despite the divine guidance you make visible to them so often.
It has to me even, full of faith as I am, seemed very barren of [p. 2] good points of late, especially the howling wildernesses of politics, where men become as wild beasts & tear each other with ignoble fury, - even the best & wisest not being exempt from the insane rage which blinds them to all the virtues of an opponent. I am truly thankful there is peace at last - &, until we know the worst the new administration will bring us, let us hope the best. Sumner has thriven on his indefatigable exertions, & having little hopes of victory, is happy to have gained so much. He was forced, by his party, into accepting the nomination to Congress – which we rather regret as he could not win it – for, as he had given out [p. 3] his decision that he could work better out of office, it will be against him with his enemies, who think him devoured by ambition, when we know him to have as little as any man ever had enticed into public affairs. He really has made noble sacrifices for duty. With his eyes open to the result, he has destroyed his social position in Boston, &, altho’ he has gained hosts of friends elsewhere, he is there almost a Pariah. It is melancholy to see the incredulity of men without lofty aims in the pure fervor of those that have them. As they cannot elevate themselves to their height they place them lower than their own range of motives.
[p. 4] Just a week, today, my sister left New York in the Bermuda steamer, & must be within a few days of St. Kitts. My brother accompanied her, but I think will return here with Spring, & do not go abroad again so soon. What a Red sea of blood the nations are wading thro’ from their ancient bondage. They need a Moses to show them a nobler path-way, & it seems to me the times will bring a leader, unless the lesson is to be that they must work out their own salvation. Dr Lieber has returned discouraged. He says they dont know in Germany the A.B.C. of self government, & he could find but few to listen to him in the uproar. Have you seen Freiligraths fierce poem which sent him [p. 5] [pencil: Cambridge – Monday] to prison, from which he was carried in triumph? Bayard Taylor has translated it. Have you seen the “Fable for Critics”? Is it not very clever & witty? The author you will easily guess – Bigelow’s Yankee effusions follow hard upon it & a Christmas Tale I believe. Henry has finished a tale called ‘Kavenagh,’ which however, I hope he will enlarge before printing it. It needs more filling out, but has passages of extreme beauty on a background of plain Yankee life. I doubt if it will be as popular as “Hyperion,” for Germany is Henry’s native country, desire the critics all they can to make him a Yankee & nothing else. Still it is well for him to try his hand [p. 6] at painting our raw beauty, for no one else can give it such a charm.
He dined a few days ago with Emerson at Concord, & met Alcott, Channing, Thoro, all Es “gossips” as he calls them. They seemed very quiet, inoffensive people he says, but he had little chance to hear them [crossed out: unfold themselves] war. He rather spoilt his day by going so late, instead of taking the early train, as E. wished, & then he could have had a satisfactory talk with the sage before the others arrived. He, Emerson, has been here & was quite changed, I thought, by his foreign, social life – much more lively & talks alive & like a man of the world – told us of Tennyson, who his [p. 7] friends wanted E. to take to Italy, & of Baylie who devotes his life to Festus, informing & enlarging it, & never meaning to write anything else. I have no doubt it has shaken the kaleidoscope of his brain into many new figures this handling of society, & the result I hope we shall see. He gives two lectures in Boston this winter. We had lately a very kind note from Nichol. Macready has made his bow here till Spring. He came unwisely in the midst of the election, but his last houses have been satisfactory. Bowen looks already softened by his new happenings, & will, I have no doubt, make an exemplary Benedict. He has an excellent wife I hear, certainly very pleasing externally
[p. 8] Hurlburt has been writing a review of Spanish Cuban poets for the next N.A. which he has read to Henry, who praises it warmly. Johnson is to come out soon to draw the children in pastel. They are very well, & have sobered down, since their cousins left, into very proper behavior. Charley talks much lately of God, & yesterday sounded the fathomless mystery with his slender plummet, by this ‘final question “Who made God?” I am soothed by my country quiet, but cannot wholly conquer the ever-fresh sense of loss & longing, & the distrust which darkens the future. I sometimes shrink from it as from a secret enemy. I have not courage to face, but again am cheered by a holy hope which fills everything with light. With much love from H. ever affly yrs Fanny E.L
[p. 1 cross] Poor Mrs Harry Otis has been cut off with a – punchbowl by her Father’s will - & us rather indignant. Her sons have each a trifle – She resigns her house, to excite sympathy some think. No news lately from Portland. I have planted nothing for the Spring. What can I do?
You had better say naught of Henry’s tale.
[p. 5 cross] Let me know how to see to your sermons if you want them.

• Keywords: correspondence; long archives; frances e. a. longfellow papers (long 20257); frances elizabeth (appleton) longfellow; people; document; Correspondence (1011/002); (LONG-SeriesName); Letters from Frances Longfellow (1011/002.001); (LONG-SubseriesName); 1847 (1011/002.001-017); (LONG-FileUnitName)