Manuscript letter

Archives Number: 1011/002.001-010#011

It is with no little satisfaction that I return to you at last your long-borrowed Volume of German Romance.
I feared, like the lost Pleiad, it would never ‘revisit the glimpses of the Moon’ after its submersion in that bottomless pit an artist’s studio – so you should thank your stars that it has finally emerged. No [p. 2] slight portion of the atmosphere of genius, ie cigars, I perceive ‘hangs round it still’ but I hope that will hallow it in your eyes still more, otherwise I should be ashamed to return it in a less spotless condition than it came.
I hoped the painter of the vision of Samuel might be tempted by the beautiful & picturesque description of the incantation-scene in the story of “the Goblet” to amuse a leisure hour by sketching it on canvass – but I [p. 3] am now aware it is too fanciful for colors - & moreover Mr Allston, it seems, has no penchant for German productions. I have enjoyed this series so much that I sincerely wish Mr Carlyle would bestir himself to translate – others, especially Jean Paul as I despair of ever rubbing Aladdin’s lamp hard enough to get a peep at the original wonders.
Yrs truly,
Fanny E. A.
Beacon St.
Monday April 6th –

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