File:Frances (Appleton) Longfellow to Emmeline (Austin) Wadsworth, 1 October 1851 (fae9b335-5865-42d2-a25f-233d7cee5687).jpg

Manuscript letter

Archives Number: 1011/002.001-021#037

Cambridge Monday
Dear Emmeline,
I am ashamed to have been so forgetful of your request, when I last wrote, of the St Catherines wheel in the garden. Here it is imperfectly sketched – but a skilful [sic] can supply the right symmetry. I hope it is not too late for your purpose.
Mrs Pierce is with me I hope for some weeks.
I see by the morning’s paper the Baltic has safely arrived, after a rough passage, so we [p. 2] are trusting to welcome papa either today or tomorrow I fear Harriot will have [crossed out: had] seen enough of the sea for her lifetime for they must have had a pretty severe gale.
We have heard twice from Sam – the last was from London & he was deeply enjoying all its interesting associations & modern wonders. He & Charles are to go thro’ England & Scotland before they settle down in Paris for the winter.
At last they long-desired rain has come & the grass begins to look a little revived in its old age, but, like belated good fortune, its smiles are rather sad than hopeful. My poor dahlias [p. 3] look blasted, as by witch’s breath, by the frost & throw a funeral shadow over the garden. Its tattered finery is a sorry sight.
Sumner was with us yesterday rather sad at all that lies before him – the contest for the right against such odds – but he bates no jot of heart or hope that his course will eventually triumph if not in his, then in abler hands. I think he was made for public life, & yet he loathes it, & longs for literary leisure. The knowledge of politicians he gets in his position is anything but cheering to one’s views of human nature – I cannot but fancy English statesmen have more nobleness of nature & purpose than ours, are not so purely [p. 4] selfish – but it may not be so.
I hear that Harriet Appleton is to be married a week from Wednesday – at church quietly in the afternoon & receive company in the evening. Do you ever see the New York Tribune? In one paper of this month is a very nice account of Nahant by Howadji Curtis, & in a later of Newport – There was also a very good one about Lake George discriminating very well the difference of our scenery & the European. His Mottoletpa is Tom & Mrs Story says I am complimented under the name of Aspasia (a dubious compliment!) in the Nahant one. How is William? As well as when you last wrote I trust & the boys also – Mine all have slight colds – but are stout & well in the main.
Good bye darling for the present ty aff Fanny.

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