File:Frances (Appleton) Longfellow to Thomas Gold Appleton, 8 May 1848 (a3598c46-2cf3-458d-8998-4829062b2c8d).jpg

Manuscript letter

Archives Number: 1011/002.001-018#009

Cambridge. May 8th 1848.
Dear Tom,
These new arrangements of the steamers so confused me that I unfortunately overlooked the last from here or you should not have been left letterless so long. I now enclose you one from Ronny, Mary writing at the same time that they intended to steam it to Bermuda, & steam thence for New York on the 7th of May (yesterday) so we may hope to see her in about a fortnight. She will arrive when everything is in its full flush of beauty, the late, warm days having brought forth blossoms as by magic, but after her tropical splendor I suppose it will look tame enough. However, we shall have too much to enjoy n being together again & in talking much over to think of such contrasts. I do wish you were here to make it complete, but will not [p. 2] complain if you are happier where you are. I hoped for a letter by yesterday’s steamer, & trust one may turn up yet, - perhaps it has gone on to papa who is returning from his southern tour. They, Harriet, especially have enjoyed it much, hearing from the children daily, & with pleasant dinners & companions to fill the time. Judge Warren, & Uncle & Aunt Wm & the two girls have been with them.
The last week has been a very sad one; the heavens seemed hung with crape & the streets filled with mourners. On Saturday previous, Julia was released from her sufferings, which were extreme, & on Monday we heard her burial service read at Trinity Church, following her body thence to St Pauls where it was buried. While in the vault there the guns were heard announcing the arrival of her brothers remains from Mexico! On Thursday came his funeral, with military honors, his riderless horse led, with the boots [p. 3] hanging upon the saddle &c all which I did not see as Erny was quite ill that day; - & the day after we went to Mt Auburn & listened to another funeral service in the Chapel for poor Mary, Story Curtis, who expired in Charleston the very day Julia died, & was brought in a steamer, to repose beside her father. As we all walked thro’ the soothing silence of Mt Auburn to the grave, the celestial choirs of birds singing over head like ransomed spirits, I thought how Mr Webster might envy his colleague who received his daughter in his other home instead of being bereft in his old age as he is. He looked like a broken column, &, while suffering so much, Faneuil Hall was pealing with acclamations at his nomination for the Presidency – the empty mockery repeated at every new dynasty. Julia’s loss is the greatest – she was his especial pride & joy, - & astonished him just before her death by repeating an [crossed out: sonnet] ode from Horace on Death which he had taught her when a child. To finish my week’s mournful history – on Saturday I went to see Susan Stackpole, & her rigid face finished the gloomy [p. 4] picture, which I am sorry to send across the water, but hope it will be softened before arriving.
Miss Porter of Niagara sailed in the last steamer, have you met her by chance? She goes as a strange damsel-errant after her brother, & may be glad of a champion in these perilous times. You witnessed the Chartist panic I suppose. They must have been heartily frightened, & may still be for, now they have acknowledged fear, - the great volcano of misery may burst thro’ the crust, as any time, &, if nothing else is done, Dukes be obliged to content themselves with one estate instead of half a dozen. Sumner has a charming letter from Mrs Basil Montague, full of admiration of Hyperion &c – She has little faith in the French nature of tiger & monkey combined, - but they have done much, I think, if they fail at last, in putting forth so many great ideas. I have been to the Deacons, & enjoyed the splendor & completeness exceedingly. I was carried to Paris as on the magic carpet & marvel how he found so much. Cora Lyman will be married on the 17th & will go abroad to pick up wrecks from revolutions probably. I have lately discovered the white painted table we have in the hall was got in the 1st French Revolution. Perhaps Marie Antoinette has rested her head upon it. Was Morse’s engagement to the laughing Miss Lee out before you left? I hear of no other. Another sad death is that of the pretty Miss Marshall, Mrs Lemson’s sister, [p. 1 cross] who caught the ship fever returning in her father’s packet. Em will leave for Geneseo before Mary comes alas! she is so impatient, as Wm is dwelling more & more on his peculiar hobbies. The children are enjoying much working in the garden with small shovels & hoe, & I wish our men were half as zealous. Charley is ambitious to be a gardener, like Adam – a natural wish in the Eden of childhood. I long to hear what yr movements are to be. With much love to Mrs Rich, Wedgwoods &c & Henrys to you
ever aff thine
Fanny
Charles Gold is married – Jewett at Burlington.

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