File:Frances (Appleton) Longfellow to Thomas Gold Appleton, 6 May 1833 (8789384f-dced-46fb-b6ba-cef23ad67324).jpg

Manuscript letter

Archives Number: 1011/002.001-003#002

Boston May 6th 1833. –
 Long ere this, dear Tommy, I trust you are safely landed on the shores of old Albion, and right glad must you be to get there, after tossing for a whole month on the ocean. – I suppose you proceed directly to London, as you intended, and if so, you will probably receive this letter from a friend of yours, Mr J. Dutton Russell who is marching off to the “ould countrie,” as well as plenty more of your youths  We shall be in sad want of beaux, I fear! – Probably you want to hear about every thing that is going on, and therefore I shall e’en give a minute account of our wise proceedings in this important city. –
 Miss Kemble as you may imagine kicked up a tremendous dust here, both with her horse’s hoofs and her own heels, but the commotion has “pretty considerably subsided, and tho’ she still has full houses yet she is not quite so much stared at, as a first rate lion.  The-long-talked-of Fair for the Blind produced a still more furious excitement, but that is now fairly over, and the people will settle down into their usual hum-drum occupations for a long time, no doubt. – The Fair was magnificent beyond description, according to all accounts, and [p. 2] was kept up for three days, and as many nights, with unabated splendor.  The gentlemen were very well disposed, and emptied their pockets finely.  Mrs Otis the “prima donna” of the occasion, was as conspicuous as ever, but tho’ never wearied, is somewhat hoarse with her exertions.  The precise sum obtained is not exactly ascertained, but probably $10.000 if not more.  Famous, is it not?  They are fast getting the 50,000 which allows them to take possession of Mr Perkins house.  There is one good story about Mrs O.  Somebody came up to her table, asked for nothing, but having surveyed the fair lady for some minutes, put down $10 – satisfied, and declaring that a sight of her was all he desired, and would pay for.  Cool!!
 Now, my dear Tom, I am truly sorry that my first letter to you should contain aught melancholy or sad: but when was the cup of affliction ever left empty or half filled?-  You will probably not be surprised to hear that Joe Barrett, (whom you well know to have been attacked by a hopeless disease, has at last departed from the world, leaving his family disconsolate for the loss of their chief member.  He died very quietly and perfectly resigned. – It is a very sad thing for his poor Mother, who has always expected every thing from him, her only son.  Perhaps however this is all very well for him, for his constitution was never good, and his constant [p. 3] attention to study must have worn him out sooner or later.  But how can I find words to express to you another most distressing event, which has spread such a gloom over our community.  You may remember that Uncle Eben has been in wretched health all winter, particularly lately.  This illness having taken a more serious turn, within three weeks, has brought on a bilious fever which we all feared might terminate fatally.  His mind wandered, and his disease coming to a crisis he expired last Monday (a week from today) without having obtained any consciousness of his situation.  This I know will shock you exceedingly, as it has all of us; for tho’ from the moment we heard his disease was so dangerous we feared for his life, yet when all was over, we started as from some undreamt-of calamity.  His loss is excessive, more than can be realized now, to all of us, but most especially to his own family.  We went to Lowell, (Wednesday) to see him for the last time, cold - & dead – and it did not seem possible that he was really gone.  Continually we thought to see him appear and welcome us where he had never failed to do so before! – Mrs Eben feels it very much, and is quite overcome – but poor Sam18 seems to be entirely bent down.  His father was invaluable to him, & the responsibility upon him now is very great.  How sad a thing it is to have one so beloved, so suddenly snatched from our sight forever!  He too. – ever so gay and cheerful! -  The [p. 4] physicians thought after his death on examination that it was water upon the brain that occasioned such a sudden dissolution and the aberration of his intellect.
 This most melancholy event has partially undecided our plans for travelling, but probably we shall decamp westward some time this month.  At any rate we are making all due preparations for so doing.  We may go as far as Cincinnati but it is a “precious long” journey and I know not whether we can accomplish it.  The weather has been delightful for travelling but there is an extreme need of rain and we are in some danger of having the fate of the Verd Glanders.
 I suppose you imagine, by this time, I have become a most celebrated paintiess but unfortunately all schemes got upon in such a hurry speedily evaporated.  I however purchased a caid, got dressed in proper style for such an occupation, and marched down to our room fully determined that I should accomplish wonders. – But I did not find all things in quite such fine order as I anticipated; brushes wanting, and paints used up.  Some oil called Poppy’s oil I concluded must be the right (as I saw no other there) but such an odour of Castor oil rushed out that I found it too much of a dose, and gave up in despair; especially as it would not work no how. -  So much for that. – I shall wait, I think, till my learned brother comes home from Rome, fully initiated in Titian’s style or Domenichin’s.  Johannes Bryant has sent home some splendid engravings &c which I am to see this afternoon.  Do [???] likewise and send us all sorts [p. 4 cross] of lovely things.  Mary continues her lessons of Doughty, and will cut me entirely out I expect.  Aunt Sam sends bushells of love to you, and says, she is extremely sorry on your account that Mrs Welles is coming to this country, she is such an important personage for all travellers there & especially young men.  Mr Payne has at last departed from our fair city and has sent Mary from N. York a fine panoramic view of the street surrounding Regent’s Park, and marked the very house you will occupy if you follow his directions that we may see the place of your daily peregrinations.   But I guess as how you will keep pretty clear of his acquaintances and pick up better ones “on your own hook.” – What are you doing with yoursel’ birdoon.  Would that I could take a look of eye and a peep at your book of caricatures.  What fine ones you can find out of John Bull!  you must not fail to write evenly by way of amusing us poor, forlorn craters here.  Theodore Sedgwick is also tramping to Europe speedily. – Grandmother & Aunt Mat are going to leave us next Monday for Pitts. and we shall be quite lonely.  Distressing idea that we shall not get news from you till June but then we shall hear often.  Write to me owloose and tell me all about the fine things you sees [sic] – pictures especially – Good bye little boy,
 (Have you lost your watch yet?) Yr loving sister
 Fan –

• Keywords: correspondence; frances elizabeth (appleton) longfellow; thomas gold appleton; death; Correspondence (1011/002); (LONG-SeriesName); Letters from Frances Longfellow (1011/002.001); (LONG-SubseriesName); 1833 (1011/002.001-003); (LONG-FileUnitName)