File:Frances (Appleton) Longfellow to Thomas Gold Appleton, 7 October 1856 (77b71833-1905-4883-9462-20e755f9f85e).jpg

Manuscript letter

Archives Number: 1011/002.001-026#013

Cambridge. Oct 7th 1856.
Dear Tom,
I still write to you only, not knowing Mary’s address, so it must serve for both. We are in the splendour of the Indian summer, & we are enjoying our drives more than ever than in the natural summer. Our front hedge is emblazoned with the blood-red creeper, & our garden dazzling with the glory of the Cardinal flower, & the landscape everywhere so beautiful with colour, October light & mist as I believe can be seen nowhere else on earth. We explore [p. 2] daily new & lovely roads.
Last week we had a charming dinner at Agassiz for the Motleys, - Lowell, Greenough & wife &c & in the evening several of her old friends, living here, making quite a sentimental affair of it as they had not met for years. How well they are both looking! Mary thinner & therefore improved, & Lothrop with no sign of age but a slight & becoming frosting of his raven locks. We wish much to get them here as residents, & they are anxious to come, & we are looking about for a house, which I hope wont be impossible to find. Susan Stackpole certainly will come to be with her boys thro’ college, & they wish to be together.
[p. 3] I have always hoped Motley would be offered the chair of History here, and was vexed that a young man named Torrey got it, an excellent teacher doubtless but for this oldest & most honored University in the country a man should win a name to get its honors. Motley’s signal success should have such a reward, &, as I hear Torrey’s eyes have given out & he may have to resign, I have still my secret hopes.
He is so true & warm-hearted it would be a great pleasure to me to have him in my vicinity.
Our house is still in such confusion, from the delay of masons, that we could not have them to dinner, but Henry [p. 4] gave one at Parker’s, as a farewell to Rölker, & had Motley & Lowell &c. Also another one to the Danish minister & Dr Kohl, a famous traveller, with papa, Prescott & Agassiz which was very successful. Give my warmest congratulations to Mrs Story, if you are still near her. I hope she is well & strong again.
Frank Hodgkinson was married last week & hoped Bangs would be on the same day. I hope you were able to be present as they wished for you. Papa’s birthday & mine were remembered yesterday & I think I feel quite as old as he does on the event.
Henry walks about very briskly now. I am hurried now so must say adieu, with best love to Mary, who I hope has enjoyed her Irish tour, ever yr affte
Fanny –

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