File:Frances (Appleton) Longfellow to Harriot Coffin (Sumner) Appleton, 31 May 1850 (a5fb5ea8-ea21-4469-8048-c9ee8e3b80bb).jpg

Manuscript letter

Archives Number: 1011/002.001-020#012

New York
Union Hotel Friday –
Dear Harriot,
We have returned alas! to the region of east winds. But we have certainly been lucky in our weather on the journey for Mrs Coleman, who we met on board the boat to Burlington going to nurse a sick grandchild there, told us it had rained ever since we left Phil – tho’ so bright with us in Washington. We had a cloudy but comfortable day [crossed out: here] on the way here, but were welcomed by a vile east wind which blew all yesterday. Today it rains, but we shall leave for Springfield at noon. We like this hotel much. It is quiet & so near everybody, with delightful water conveniences, baths &c attached to the rooms. We have a parlor with three rooms connected from it – one for Mr Austin who will go on with us. Mr Hays [p. 2] boards here! so we have found him at last, & he is civil as usual with newspapers &c. John Codman is at his sister’s. I gave him your note, via Bessett, but he had already found Madame. He wont stay here, foolishly, to the wedding of Ben Welles, which takes place in 8 days, altho’ the fair Georgie is here & her mother is to come on. Her cloak was strapped to his trunk from Phil & he quite triumphed over Austin for losing his carpet-bag by taking it in his hand – but it has been recovered. Mrs Kent kindly came to see us the very afternoon we arrived (she lives only a few doors off) & wanted me to take tea there tonight with Felton, who is staying there & will go on Saturday, but we must break the distance. Mrs Sidney Brooks took me, yesterday, all about in her carriage – to Stewarts, where I had [p. 3] never been, to see Trinity Church which was finished since we were here 6 years ago, & is too beautiful for that business part of the town, to the Dusseldörf Gallery where are some charming things, & to see Medora Ward who is more beautiful than ever before & whose good conduct she praises highly. She was engaged to dinner (Mrs B I mean) or we should have dined with her to complete a very pleasant day malgré the east wind. Deacon was driving about in it in an open barouche! & Medora’s little Sammy was playing on the balcony in a cambric shirt with bare neck & arms & Spanish breeches which fascinated Henry. He is just Charley’s age! The wife of my friend the Bishop of Jamaica is under us here with two daughters, & Mrs Brooks says desires much to make our acquaintance & is a [p. 4] very charming person, but as we cannot meet her at her house she did not undertake the introduction.
Mrs Jay has been to beg me again to make her a visit. Allyne Otis has arrived (we have not seen him) & pretending to be homesick. What a passage Judkins has made! Tom will try him, I fancy, on his return.
I hope father enjoyed his dinner at the Presidents & is not thinking of leaving Washington yet a while. We shall certainly have bad weather till the middle of June & he must not start till he hears from me that we have had at least three warm days together. God bless him & cure him speedily – With kind remembrances to Mrs Winthrop.
Yr aff Fanny.
How triumphant Fanny Calderon must be over the Havana news! I hunted up one or two shoe shops in Phil but [p. 1 cross] could not find Charley a pair of gaiter boots. If you get any for Naty will you please try this measure on some single soles linen tops to button over. or any that will fit
ENDORSED: FANNY L. / 1850

• Keywords: correspondence; long archives; frances e. a. longfellow papers (long 20257); frances elizabeth (appleton) longfellow; people; document; places; united states; new york; new york city; subject; travel; Correspondence (1011/002); (LONG-SeriesName); Letters from Frances Longfellow (1011/002.001); (LONG-SubseriesName); 1850 (1011/002.001-020); (LONG-FileUnitName)