File:Frances (Appleton) Longfellow to Harriot Coffin (Sumner) Appleton, 24 July 1850 (8ae67822-1fc7-4645-95cf-f4c5ee166854).jpg

Manuscript letter

Archives Number: 1011/002.001-020#025

Nahant. July 24th 1850.
Dear Harriot,
I send a letter from Mary to Tom the only one we have had since we came here except that father sent. I am glad she is so pleasantly situated & hope she wont think of returning to St Kitts while she has so many friends in England to cheer her separation from Robert.
Josey Joy died this morning very quietly after a general breaking up of his system. He has been failing for some weeks – Poor Abby will feel it very much having been quite unprepared for his death.
What a sad tragedy is the wreck [p. 2] of the Elisabeth with her precious freight of human beings & works of art! The poor Marchioness’ fate is in keeping with her romantic history, but very sad for her mother & friends. Sumner has gone to find, if possible, the body of his brother Horace, whose early loss will be very painful to him & to his mother & sister unspeakably so –
The storm was very violent here but chiefly with rain, - & yesterday, as we were driving on the beach at sunset, admiring the extreme beauty of the pearly tints of the sea & a far-off ship lit by the rosy light we passed great masses of sea-weed & dead fish tossed up by the storm & bringing the reality of it distressingly to our minds.
[p. 3] We were glad to get another letter from papa with better tidings of himself. A bracing air is said to be good for bronchial troubles, as they are caused by debility, & Mr JB. Curtis hoped he would come here if Pittsfield was not enough so for him, but the operations have always to be renewed I hear, & I hope he will send for Dr Greene & not go to New York this hot weather.
Uncle Wm looks in on us once a week visiting all his flock. Mrs Frank has a great addition to her fortune by the death of Mr Silsbee & hs is arranging it for her.
I am glad Mr Sparks has some set off to his home trials!
Maria Goodwin passed the day with us yesterday & seemed to enjoy her short visit. Jewett has returned & I hope will soon present the book as I am impatient to see it. Mr [p. 4] Lodge has had a copy some days but we have not yet been favored, Isaac P. was asking for his when I dined with him at Mrs Paiges. Jewett will not, I trust, be too lavish out of the family or the papers will get hold of it, & after the Lawrence affair we cannot well be too private. Mrs Kirkland feels George Cabot’s death very intensely – but for his father it must be a cessation of constant shame & anxiety. We were at Lynn lately to see Sarah & Emily. The latter has quite a mansion but looks miserably & her trou is likewise Marianne is still very feeble, much troubled by pains in her side. Little Copley went in to bathe with the chicks today. They have now gone to Mrs Ps to see Cary Appleton who is there for a week. A Mrs Jancy (Col Hoone’s daughter in law) is at the Hotel, & got up much sympathy for her understanding she was Dr Webster’s daughter!
[p. 1 cross] Tell papa that the Club meets at Mr J. B. Curtis’ Friday & Dr Hayward offers to cut his thirst, if he will come, in the best manner – but this will not arrive in time probably.
[p. 5 marked 5] Tom has got us a carry-all with one steady horse, a great comfort as walking far is impossible to me & all the world drive here. At sunset we meet quite an array on the beach & I have seen a good deal of old friends. Tom is very busy visiting the young ladies, & seems to like much our quiet little cottage & the sea baths. We have a bath-house to ourselves on a near beach & the chicks go in every day. They are very brown & well, with famous appetites.
We get our Transcript daily earlier than in Cambridge & have our clothes sent down weekly by the Express. Mrs Bryant has a donkey carriage “what wont go” & is getting rather tired of the obstinate beast. She thinks of giving him up to her little girl & have panniers made. [p. 6] Have you seen the Sedgwicks? Poor Mrs Butler lost her summer with her children.
It is very amusing here to see people pass – some very stylish vehicles & several equestrian young ladies. The Miss Peabodies out gallop all admirers.
I write in haste so have no time for Nahant gossip –
Love to papa & your mother - & kisses to the chicks –
affly yrs
Fanny E.L.
Charley & Erny send much love to Willy et cetera
Henry went to Portland the day of the storm returning the next. All pretty well there. Mary had arrived. I am much stronger here & enjoy it much.

• Keywords: correspondence; long archives; frances e. a. longfellow papers (long 20257); frances elizabeth (appleton) longfellow; people; document; nahant; ma; united states; places; subject; pregnancy and childbirth; social life; family life; Correspondence (1011/002); (LONG-SeriesName); Letters from Frances Longfellow (1011/002.001); (LONG-SubseriesName); 1850 (1011/002.001-020); (LONG-FileUnitName)