File:Frances (Appleton) Longfellow to Thomas Gold Appleton, 19 December 1860 (d49e0427-415a-4edd-b93c-e4db4aa4b3e2).jpg

Manuscript letter

Archives Number: 1011/002.001-030#030

Cambridge Dec 19th 1860
Dear Tom,
The Europa has arrived but Henry has not yet been able to get the box out of the Custom House, having been quite ill, for a few days, with influenza
Your letter, with the bill of lading &c, however, is at hand to aid him, & I hope, tomorrow, to see the beautiful gifts for which I must again thank you – I shall be set up in magnificence for a long time, & the arrive just in time for Christmas for which the children will be also glad. The container’s bill, tho’ as weighty [p. 2] as any on this side of the water, promises everything I could wish The bonnet must be just what I shall desire for the Spring & your remembrance of everything, even to the hoops, was very kind.
I have just got Julia Gardner’s wedding card, so there will, no doubt, be some fine ball beofe long at which the Rose des Alpes can bloom Harriot has her usual Xmas party with the children as foam on the champagne of the latter part of the evening. Last night I was at a pleasant tea-party at the Norton’s for Mrs Field, who prolongs her stay in Cambridge by a visit to Mrs Cary, who is established in her new house. Emily Otis Eliot was there, looking very pretty, & told me of her sister’s [p. 3] wedding. Talking of weddings Stillman’s was the oddest – He returned on a Tuesday, renewed his engagement, which had been broken off, & the next day was married, while a tea party was going on the house, only a portion of the guests being invited in to the ceremony! Then the happy & hurried pair set off at once for Europe. Field has brought home an album of photographs, the small size, of distinguished people which interest us very much, & Henry would like to have you get him some of the literary celebrities (he does not care for statesmen) & artists, musical & other, of chiefest note.
The Convention has met at Charleston, but we do not yet hear of secession as a ‘fait accompli” – [p. 4] There seems rather, the last few days, less zeal for it everywhere, & the great fear is now of unworthy compromises being extorted from the North, - far worse than losing those few troublesome states. I trust, however, the Republicans will stand firm, after such encouragement from the people to do so, - & such a struggle & victory. The decided expression of non-sympathy with the South from England & France has somewhat sobered the mad traitors apparently. “Vanity Fair” has a capital caricature of Buchanans vacillating policy, Dogberry's (B) charge to Seacoal (Lincoln) in making him captain of the watch – ‘to arrest all “vagrom men” – “But if they will not stand –“ “Then let them go, in God's name”
The Fields are so sorry to be here just as you are away. I like her as much as I do him & think them alike. Papa is so [p. 1 cross] much better I hope you won’t think of a winter passage.
Henry has bought the Nahant cottage, conjointly with you, for $5,000. This was as cheap as he could get it, as some one else wanted it. So that is secure & will always be of value.
I hope you will much enjoy your winter Give my love to Mrs Brooks & Emmeline if still in Paris.
Henry has a poem in the Jan Atlantic- "Paul Revere's Ride" –
Poor Alice comes in frozen in her skates. Affly yrs FEL

• Keywords: correspondence; long archives; frances e. a. longfellow papers (long 20257); frances elizabeth (appleton) longfellow; document; holidays; christmas; social life; family life; longfellow works; Correspondence (1011/002); (LONG-SeriesName); Letters from Frances Longfellow (1011/002.001); (LONG-SubseriesName); 1860 (1011/002.001-030); (LONG-FileUnitName)