Manuscript letter

Archives Number: 1011/002.001-008#005

Pittsfield. September 18th 1838. You seem to be somewhat amazed, dearest Papa, at our being able to resist the temptations of tender partridges, delicious fruit & all other city comforts & luxuries – so long – I confess they stand out in most enticing contrast with the tavern fare we have been worrying through for the last fortnight at Lenox – where the epithet “tender” is no more applicable to any fish, flesh, or fowl given Christians to eat than to the conscience of our landlord. Still we have enjoyed this fortnight so much in driving about, - exploring brooks & mountains -& in such goodlie companie that September came on me quite unawares, - as the beautiful – un-frost-bitten verdure of the country gave no hint Summer was over. We shall certainly depart however Monday & homeward jounce our weary way’ – via Springfield we think. Mary has left me I believe to give all the details of our Bissebach expedition – which was a right merry one & altogether successful & satisfactory – now that our bodily aches are happily mended. I wished very much you had been with us for you would have enjoyed the great beauty of the country we explored - & Canaen falls especially, - which I astounded our party by declaring to be quite equal, in my opinion to those of Shaffhausen which they very much resemble, - an immense mass of water – broken by fine ledges of rocks on one side most picturesquely - & set in infinitely finer hills - & dales – than – frame any fall I remember. Our party amounted to 17 – the majority filling, to running over, a huge Noah’s ark called omnibus. [crossed out: with[??ing] ] 4 horses, & a driver who deserves a medal for skill. We hired a barouche. as a refuge – in case of rain. Mrs Sedgwick – et suis (her ‘queue’) was mistress of the omnibus – with both Kates, Mrs Butler & baby - & the joint contributions of Lenox & Stockbridge. Tom dividing with the 2 Italians the male influence. The first day we passed thro’ the beautiful town of Great Barrington, - lunched at Sheffield - & thro’ very fine scenery, tho’ terribly disenchantd by dust & heat, arrived at Salisbury – a quiet little village with two inns - & a church. Imagine the stowage here of us all. A huge ball-room in each inn – with sundry other nooks yclept chambers; were put in requisition. The next day we woke up to behold a second deluge of rain. At [p. 2] first rather long faces but it dampened not our spirits. Mr Averell (brother in law to Miss Pomeroy that was) lives at S., so obligingly brought us Shakspeare [sic] & Bepon, Mrs Butler read nobly – Shylock, & with chat & frolic the day spun off, a bustling little landlady serving us with right good will with a patriarchal turkey. which nearly dislocated Abinola’s wrist carving – eked out by a heterogeneous profusion would have dined six – Gargantuas; we had one in Signor Foresti – a “man of most unbounded stomach” making up for 18 years starvation in Spielberg. In the evening we assembled at one inn & having sent a mile for the blackest of negro fiddlers – had the merriest dancing in the ball-room – garnished about with a dozen grim portraits of host & hostess’ in every attitude the painter had practised. Mrs Butler & Kate dressed up as Polish Counts. & at 10, not to scandalize the good people too much, we dispatched our fiddler nearly crazy with the excitement of using his rusty fiddle-bow. By dint of migrating india-rubbers we got home. Next day, bright & beautiful – we had an enchanting drive to Canaan, after fording streams swollen on level with bridges; explored the folly – lunched & returned to Salisbury [crossed out: thro’] by two beautiful lakes. Enacted a Carbonau meeting in the evg under Foresti. Another beautiful day for the main point of our journey. Drove (Mr Averell for a guide) 15 miles up a mountain road – very wild – having on the top a view of the Catskills; dreamily-skirting the horizon – got out at a farmhouse primitive to a marvel – left Mrs Butler’s baby & with staff in hand the whole party marched for the fall. Mrs B & I on horseback – with Mr Averell – a mile or so thro’ the woods; a view very like a bit of the Righi, then dismounting we scrambled down a ravine – ploughed up by the storm to a frightful condition. After great fatigue guided by the noise of the fall & an antiquity from the farm-house we reach the brink of the brook into which tumbles the Bissebach. It is a very noble cascade falling down a very wild ravine a great height – the rocks huge & the whole very Swissish & picturesque. We had not time to explore the most difficult parts. Remounting this bed of a torrent was as fatiguing as Montanvert - & we nearly gave out in despair several times. However a lunch ‘al fresco’ revived us & we got back to Salisbury in safety tho’ a moonless road, - precipice on one side, - mad us rather nervous especially for the fate of the omnibus. The next night Saturday we returned in triumph to Lenox having all enjoyed excessively the expedition & making quite envious those who were too lazy to go. We think such an invasion will become historical in Salisbury -; the wonder of the inhabitants as betrayed by peeping in at [p. 3] the windows &c being both anxious to see Mrs Butler & Miss Sedgwick – was quite ludicrous. I hope all these particulars may amuse you in spite of this pen & ink being in a gallopping [sic] consumption… Thursday. Yesterday we passed at Stockbridge – Mary & I having come down to Lenox again the night before to attend Miss Kitty’s birthnight party – where we saw Judge Shaw & lady. Tom, Aunt Mat & Fanny W – walked with us all over our future domain & I discovered many new beauties. It combines every thing & I am more anxious than ever to have it decisively purchased. Mr Theodore says he has an answer from you to his letter - & that you wish to consult with us. We all join in begging you to buy it – the S’s- think the price not to extravagant for the beauty of the grounds - & Mr T- says the sooner it is settled the better. They consider it all the gem of Stockbridge. Mr Robert has thought of sailing for Europe this Autumn – Miss S- intends to go certainly in the Spring. We visited Mrs Webb (Mrs Watson’s daughter) there yesterday. She has returned ill & spectral from her Indian mission. Harrison Apthorp called on us last night fresh from the West – of which he gives more disgusting & wretched accounts than I have lately heard even from Jewett. Nearly devoured by the mosquitos & a victim of the usual curse the aguish-fever. Aunt Dorothy gives us a party tonight, a bore we cant escape even here. If Miss Austin is back give my best love to her. We are rather puzzled how to get home in the way of vehicle – dreading much the common stage. Did you have such a fine eclipse as we on Tuesday? Here you see what fine times we have had & you wondering what kept us here – you driven for resources to whist, before the leaves are off, with Mrs Fay! Grandmother cant make up her mind to accompany s. I hope you will find this legible, tho’ written in great haste & with the vilest instruments. Keep up your spirits-; your splendid hermitage will soon be appreciated doubly – for our long acquaintanceship with rustic fare & lodgement – Mary claims the tail of my letter – Give my love to Aunt Sam &c &c &c – who we shall embrace speedily –
Yrs with a kiss –
Fanny.
ADDRESSED: N. APPLETON ESQ. / BOSTON / MASS.
POSTMARK: PITTSFIELD / SEP 21 / MAS.
ENDORSED: FANNY APPLETON / SEPT 18TH.

• Keywords: correspondence; frances elizabeth (appleton) longfellow; nathan appleton; pittsfield; ma; lenox; Correspondence (1011/002); (LONG-SeriesName); Letters from Frances Longfellow (1011/002.001); (LONG-SubseriesName); 1838 (1011/002.001-008); (LONG-FileUnitName)