File:Frances (Appleton) Longfellow to Emmeline (Austin) Wadsworth, 20 July 1840 (c58bed47-8951-4431-b8a1-c97a081a2ef4).jpg

Manuscript letter

Archives Number: 1011/002.001-010#021

Newport Monday evg July ’40 –
My darling little Em,
I have the pleasure of enclosing to you a letter from Mary which travelled hither side by side with yours to me & never knew it was in such agreeable company like some folks in this world only separated from their friends by a thin, but sufficient, envelope. I forbid your breaking its seal till you have first read me – perhaps I shall get a more patient listening however when your curiosity is allayed; as you will see, there is no particular news, she is still enjoying the quiescence of rural life with kind friends, likes her new sister but before she arrived had some twinges of sisterly longing for me during Mac’s absences, which, God knows, are more rarely on her side than on mine. And this brings me to what I set out to write about – the delight which the thought of having you here soon my second sister & best friend has given me. I am really distressed that you should have been worrying your dear little self to such a degree about interfering with Fanny Wright’s pleasures – your tender heart has run away with your wits thereanent & I am sure she ought to be immensely obliged to you for your concern on her account Do you think, anima mia, in this big castle of a house that we have to stow people in strata like bricks or 3 abreast as you modestly propose – as they poor 3 graces must have reposed being inseparable night & day - I tickle my [p. 2] self-complacency greatly with thinking how much love for me must have hagitated your gentle breast. [crossed out: that] such an idea could find entrance there, midst the weather you have been suffering. Au contraire, my life & soul, there is a large spare-room & a large spare-bed & a large spare closet yawning for occupants & if you flatter my by preferring nearer propinqui[crossed out: n]tily so much for meddling with big words without a dictionary! to myself (as I hope you will-) there is ample room in my bed for half a dozen people who fit with the singular exactness to two bits of a dissected map as we do - & there is a single couch likewise in my room which will be vacant when Fanny departs, - touching that she will be sorry enough to go but is awaiting Aunt Mat’s departure as that will be the best opportunity she will have of getting to P. However that is neither here or there – come you must, by all means, as there is no possible obstacle – Mr & Mrs Sumner being too aged to keep warm! in these cool regions will, Mrs A thinks, not attempt it all summer. Aunt Sam has promised us a visit but it is very doubtful. The only thing I am puzzled about is when to have you. From now till September I should say if I knew your Father would hear of such an abduction – whenever you can stay the longest is the next best – August, I suppose, is the best month as regards heat, society &c – but let it not be after the 1st – We are all impatient to get you speedily. Tom daily gives me hints that tho’ sisterly (& cousinly) intercourse is very well (poor fellow he gets no other for this is a very scant season here as yet) yet it is rather passive than active &, in fact, he misses his talks with “Miss Emmeline” more than can be expressed. So [crossed out: to] save him from hanging himself in sea-weed off a cliff or such like disastrous [p. 3] exit from ennui you must come as soon as you can. I am sorry you have been putting upon yourself any-thing so wearing to mind & body as a night-watch & hope it will be the last. To refresh you with the idea of Death you shall read this translation of Plato’s concerning Socrates’ last moments & his wondrous conversation on the immortality of the soul which has charmed me inexpressibly – It is so much more interesting to listen to the conjectures of heathen, guided only by the instincts of our nature, free from the control of revelation & working out this difficult problem with such triumphant & ingenious success. I have been reading too Madame Camfran (by way of contrast!) & get so much more insight into the real ‘nuance’ of the Court than thro’ Carlyle’s kaleidescopical pictures. I had no idea before of half poor Marie Antoinette suffered before the Revolution & with what a gentle, patient, womanly temper. You breakfast, dine, sup & actually go to bed with the people in this book as in no other I ever read, thence its intense reality & interest.
I have not yet answered you about Transcendentalism & have now no room for any eloquence thereupon – we will discuss it as you say on our mon-lit piazza – I only shall contend that there is something in it tho’ very little in theses diseased would-be prophets who Mary Channing confesses have to have a disordered spine to pump their brain into the activity of genius! There is much readable in the ‘Dial’ tho’ you pisched on nonsense - & if you had stumbled on Alcott’s ‘Orphic sayings’ you would have acknowledged there was a depth, or shallowness, of absurdity this age must have lived to reach. This mn’g we had quite a gathering at Mrs Gilliats to compare our miniature with the famous one [p. 4 bottom] of ‘the Hours’ you have doubtless seen here. That is very lovely truly. I have pitied you with all my heart, ma mie, frying thin that hot town – Holmes’ lines must have been in every body’s mouths unless they would burn them more. Here such woes exist only in remembrance, Father came back thanking his stars like a fish that has been fool enough to jump upon the coals from its own cool element. Today we have had the cusstal freshness & cleanness [p. 4 top] when you can count the cordage on the horizon when ships, recognise sheep from wool-sacks a mile off the sea was so ‘darkly, beautifully blue’ like steel. This must have reached you after that gorgeous display of the thundershowers all round the sky last evg at sunset – an illumination of sulphurous light, a blazing brilliancy as from a Witch’s Sabat (reflected in the east in the rose colours of an Aurora) which I never saw approached but twice. I hope we shan’t be bothered about the Fair here (here are Women’s rights & mights [p. 4 cross] exemplified with a vengeance – poor, feeble, male-patiots boosted up by Fairs penny trumpet business) What can we make in this solitude but “Devil’s Aprons” or mermaid garniture? I will pack up Jacks to point at them with all their 5 fingers sputtering “Shame”! Mrs Otis will arrive just à [p. 1 cross] propos for scenes at this Fair. How many windows were broken with the 100 guns? And has the hero-Cunard already received all the honors they insist on thrusting upon him. They must heat their brains dangerously in this weather to coin new toasts for his D edition dinner. Is our worthy, fat Consul wound up to the true blarney pitch for the 2d excursion? I hope he wont make such mouths over his whip-syllabub next time or poor Hillard turn so blue & white & then feel so vexed when it was too late. Has he, by the way, been talking sentimentally in corners, of late & pray, did Gossler (oh I forget he has not gone!) giggle to the last? I was very sorry to miss Sophy as I shall write her. The cousin is to follow in 3 months. Can it mean any-thing? Wm M. thinks all the liking is on his side. I forgot to tell that Sunday before last on returning from hearing Lieut. Vinton preach we found here Dr Howe & Fredereksthal who made a short visit & took a farewell as he sails soon for his ain countrie where he thinks they have forgotten him he has heard so rarely from home or Govt. So ends this strange, eventful history with never a syllable spoken betwixt the parties concerned! I am a little piqued he sd have gone off so quietly so inconsistent are we! [p. 2 cross] solemn enough to be sure but I hope it was only skin deep.
Mary sends me a nice, warm note from Mrs Rich & a cunning one from her little niece. She is doing well but I cannot reason down my anxiety
Good bye sweet – Ever yr true Fan.
Congratulate your brother from me for getting rid of his frog accompaniments. Father says he has promised to bring you here whenever you will – Let him not forget it or –
ADDRESSED: MISS AUSTIN. / CARE OF SAML AUSTIN JR / BOSTON. MASS.
POSTMARK: NEW PORT / JUL 21 / R.I
CANCELLED: DOUBLE ONLY.

• Keywords: correspondence; frances elizabeth (appleton) longfellow; frances e. a. longfellow papers (long 20257); long archives; document; philosophy; subject; Correspondence (1011/002); (LONG-SeriesName); Letters from Frances Longfellow (1011/002.001); (LONG-SubseriesName); 1840 (1011/002.001-010); (LONG-FileUnitName)