File:Frances (Appleton) Longfellow to Nathan Appleton, 8 March 1850 (983425f4-d5c3-40e0-ac69-db010a36fb7e).jpg

Manuscript letter

Archives Number: 1011/002.001-020#007

Craigie House March 8th /50
Dear papa,
The first note I wrote you will, I suppose, travel from Charleston in company with this, but as it will be a week old I thought I would send you the last news of us. Your telegraphic dispatch & two famous budgets from Charleston all arrived safely & were most eagerly devoured. Pray give Jewett our best thanks for his well-filled sheets. If he continues to be so faithful a chronicler we shall jog along with you invisibly, & get all the pleasure without the fatigue. We were disappointed to hear your cough was still troubling you, but hope the warmer sun of Havana has thawed it entirely away, & that you are luxuriating in that tropical glare & eating your dozen oranges a day in [p. 2] stead of vile lozenges & other medicinal compounds. Jewett’s description of the Pringle ball was very fine, but we laughingly think it is hardly fair for him to pass six months in Boston & disdain to look within a single ball-room, & then be so eloquent in praise of southern beauty & elegance. If he had been at Mrs Deacon’s he would have seen a ball nothing but the ‘petit Trianon’ could rival, & at Mrs Sears’ & others hearty enough to turn any bachelors head.
Harriot has written you, doubtless, of her unfortunate influenza. I am glad to hear she is better, for on Saturday she looked very dismal, in bed, & fearing an attack in her eyes. We had a delightful dinner at Aunt Sam’s as usual, after hearing the heart breaking tragedy of King John, which, however, only gave us a better appetite for her delicate oyster pasty, ducks - & most fragrant of coffee in the most graceful of cups. Bangs & [p. 3] Wheaton there as usual. Uncle Sam resplendent in a new garnet-velvet dressing gown brought by Capt Hunt.
Wednesday evening, despite a pouring rain, we drove in for Mrs Kemble’s last reading the 1st part of King Henry 4. which was admirably delivered. Redoubled applause at the end brought her back to give some farewell words, which, with great emotion, she faltered forth – saying she should never have the pleasure of reading in Boston again.
I found her in tears below & she said – “I believe I love Boston better than any of you. I like to ride to Dorchester Heights & think how gloriously you beat us.” This was magnanimous from so true an Englishwoman, but she has warmed towards America much of late years.
She invited us to the Revere House, & there entertained us & some dozen other ladies & gentlemen with a nice little supper – her brilliant salon decorated with the choicest flowers from Salem & elsewhere. She is now in N. York.
I am glad you wrote to Tom. I [p. 4] did also. Richard Greenough, wife, child, & wifes mother & sister sailed in the steamer to pass some years in Italy. How much they will enjoy it! – both so fond of art.
I hope you wont hurry away from Cuba, but remain amused there long enough to feel no change in reaching N. Orleans. With Calderon’s letters you ought to see some of the grandees. Madame has described to me as living in a splendor quite oriental.
Henry sends much love. With kind remembrances to Jewett
ever lovingly yours
Fanny E.L.
Chicks send many kisses to Gand-papa.
ENDORSED: FANNY MARCH [8] 1853

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