File:Frances (Appleton) Longfellow to Anne Longfellow Pierce, 19 February 1844 (5243bdc9-50e4-4a9e-88a4-a06b9cb50e0b).jpg

Manuscript letter

Archives Number: 1011/002.001-014#005

Cambridge. Feb 19th 1844
Dearest Annie
I send you Mrs Websters copy of the Pico newspaper (the original was sent back to Fayal) and an extract from the English Quarterly in which Henry is honorably mentioned, at the expense, however, of his fellow bards. The first part of the article is as “savage & tastesly “as a review can be, & denounces America in so bad & bitter a spirit, though alas! with enough truth to make it painfully barbed, that it can do little good. It is thought to be written by Dickens, but Hen [p. 2] ry & Felton doubt it. I imagine some one of his clique did it, he shaking in pepper to season it to his taste. Dana & Sprague, as you will see, do not receive justice, but the mob of scribblers that claim a settlement upon our Parnassus because they mistake patriotism for poetry are hardly handled too severely.
We were just going to pass a few days in town when your letter arrived, where I was very busy in returning calls & in aiding Mrs Appleton who is preparing for a great ball to take place on the 28th, - or I should have attended sooner to the wishes therein expressed. Henry does not own the Bibles you desire [p. 3] & does not know where to procure them. Do you wish them bought or borrowed? If you will let him know exactly how strong your will is upon this matter, he will [crossed out: attend] undertake to satisfy it in the way you prefer. Would you like Kenricks Exposition of the New Testament, in 3 Vols? He has this, & can send it you if you wish.
Mrs Sumner & Mrs Appleton were greatly delighted & touched with the cordial manner in which your townspeople greeted Mr Coffin. The former was made very happy by this proof of his return to public esteem in his native place, & was rejoiced that he acquitted himself so well. He speaks of his visit [p. 4] with as much delight as gratitude, & is never weary of living it over again with her.
The happiness of mine arose again at sight of Mrs Dearing’s sparkling eyes. Henry has been hoping to give you a flying visit, which I had not courage to undertake with him, but has been deterred by the cold & the exactions of winter’s devils so long that the vacation will expire without it probably.
His eyes go on improving - & he deserves praise for his great patience with this partially restored phase even more than when he could not use them at all – for it is much harder to stop when interested in reading or writing than having once resigned oneself to inaction to maintain it.
[p. 1 cross] I wish I had time to thank you properly for your last letter but this scrawl is all I am at liberty to do at present. I thank you from my heart, for sympathising so warmly with my new hopes. I trust they will not disappoint you & that the “second edition” will be free from all the errata of the first. With love to all
Yrs ever Fanny –

• Keywords: correspondence; long archives; frances e. a. longfellow papers (long 20257); frances elizabeth (appleton) longfellow; people; document; social life; health and illness; subject; henry wadsworth longfellow; Correspondence (1011/002); (LONG-SeriesName); Letters from Frances Longfellow (1011/002.001); (LONG-SubseriesName); 1844 (1011/002.001-014); (LONG-FileUnitName)