Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Part 4

{21 _North American Review_, xxix. 459.}

{22 _Harvard Graduates' Magazine_, vi. 6.}

{23 Goodrich's _Recollections of a Lifetime_, ii. 263, 560.}

{24 _North American Review_, x.x.xiv. 56.}

{25 _North American Review_, x.x.xiv. 59.}

{26 _North American Review_, x.x.xiv. 61.}

{27 _Ib._ 69.}

{28 _North American Review_, x.x.xiv. 74, 75.}

{29 _Ib._ 78.}

CHAPTER VIII

APPOINTMENT AT HARVARD AND SECOND VISIT TO EUROPE

While he was thus occupied with thoughts and studies which proved to be more far-seeing than he knew, the young professor was embarra.s.sed by financial difficulties in which the college found itself; and he began after three years to consider the possibility of a transfer to other scenes, perhaps to some professors.h.i.+p in New York or Virginia.

The following letter, hitherto unpublished, gives us the view taken in the Longfellow house of another project, namely, that of his succeeding to the charge of the then famous Round Hill School at Northampton, about to be abandoned by its projector, Joseph G. Cogswell. The quiet judgment of the young wife thus sums it up in writing to her sister-in-law:--

Sunday afternoon [February, 1834].

... Henry left us Friday noon in the mail for Boston, as George will tell you. I do not like the idea of his going to Northampton at all--although it would be a most beautiful place to reside in. Still I feel sure he would not like the care of a school, and such an extensive establishment as that is too. He heard that Mr. Cogswell was to leave them for Raleigh and wrote him--in answer to which he received a long letter, wis.h.i.+ng him much to take the place, &c.; which determined him to go immediately to Northampton. He requires $1600 to be advanced, and it would be incurring a certain expense upon a great uncertainty of gaining more than a living there. I do not think Henry calculated at all for such a situation. If he dislikes so much the care of such a little family as ours, how can he expect to like the multifarious cares of such a large one! He has promised not to decide upon anything till he returns, and I feel so confident that all uninterested persons will dissuade him from it, that I rest quite at ease. I wished him to go to satisfy himself, he was so very sanguine as to the result of it. We expect him home the last of next week. This Northampton business is a profound secret and is not mentioned out of the family!

Another extract from the same correspondent shows us how Longfellow was temporarily influenced at Brunswick, like Lowell afterwards at Cambridge, by the marked hygienic and even ascetic atmosphere of the period; an influence apparently encouraged in both cases by their young wives, yet leaving no permanent trace upon the habits of either poet,--habits always moderate, in both cases, but never in the literal sense abstemious.

Friday evening [April, 1834].

... He has gone to a Temperance Lecture this evening. He intends becoming a member of the Temperance Society; indeed I do not know but he has signed the paper already. He is a good little dear, and I approve of everything (_almost_ smoking) he does. He is becoming an advocate of vegetable diet, Dr. Mussey's hobby; and Clara and I have nothing but lectures from him and Alexander, upon corsets.

The following extract gives us a glimpse of his literary work:--

BRUNSWICK, Nov. 2, 1834.

Henry comes on famously with Outre Mer. The No. on Spain is finished and that on Italy will be before Thanksgiving. It is by far more interesting than any of the other No's. Henry thinks himself it is much superior in point of interest and in style. I presume he will have the remaining No's published together in N. Y. this winter.

In the midst of such literary and household cares he received the following letter:--

CAMBRIDGE, December 1, 1834.

DEAR SIR,--Professor Ticknor has given notice that it is his intention to resign his office of Smith Professor of Modern Languages in Harvard University, as soon as the Corporation shall have fixed upon a successor.

The duty of nominating to that office devolves upon me; and after great deliberation and inquiry my determination is made to nominate you for that office under circ.u.mstances which render your appointment not doubtful,--provided I receive a previous a.s.surance from you of your acceptance of it. To ascertain this is the object of the present letter.

The salary will be fifteen hundred dollars a year. Residence in Cambridge will be required. The duties of the professors.h.i.+p will be of course those which are required from the occupant of a full professors.h.i.+p, and such as the Corporation and the Overseers may appoint. If a relation such as I suggest with this university be acceptable to you, I shall be obliged by an early answer.

Should it be your wish, previously to entering upon the duties of the office, to reside in Europe, at your own expense, a year or eighteen months for the purpose of a more perfect attainment of the German, Mr. Ticknor will retain his office till your return.

Very respectfully, I am Yours, etc., etc.,

JOSIAH QUINCY.{30}

"Good fortune comes at last and I certainly shall not reject it," the young Longfellow wrote to his father. "The last paragraph of the letter," he adds, "though put in the form of a permission, seems to imply a request. I think I shall accept that also." Some additional correspondence, however, proved necessary, such as follows:--

HON. JOSIAH QUINCY:

SIR,--Your letter of to-day inclosing the Vote of the President and Fellows of Har'd University in relation to the Professors.h.i.+p of Mod'n Lang's has been received, and in expressing anew my desire to meet your wishes fully in the matter before us, I beg leave to defer an official answer until my return from the South, in about three weeks hence.

In the mean time may I take the liberty of calling your attention once more to the subject of our last conversation? I feel it important that I should be regularly appointed before sailing for Europe. Otherwise I present myself as any private individual whatever. But if I go as one of your professors, I carry with me in that very circ.u.mstance my best letter of recommendation. It gives me a character--and a greater claim to attention abroad, than I can otherwise take with me. Judge Story is ready to consent to this arrangement--so is Mr. Gray--so is Mr. Ticknor. If you could bring the subject once more before the corporation, I think the objections suggested by you when I saw you this morning will be found to give way before the good results, which I think may be reasonably antic.i.p.ated from change in your vote where respectfully suggested.

Very respect'y y'r. Ob'e. Ser't.

HENRY W. LONGFELLOW.{31}

BOSTON, Jan'y 1, 1834. [Error for 1835.]

HON. JOSIAH QUINCY:

SIR,--Placing entire confidence in the a.s.surances of the President and Fellows of Harvard University in reference to my election to the Smith Professors.h.i.+p of Modern Languages and Belles Lettres in that inst.i.tution, which a.s.surances were communicated to me in y'r favor of 1st January, together with their Vote upon the subject,--I have the honor to inform you, that I shall sail for Europe in the month of April next, and remain there till the summer of 1836.

Very respectfully

HENRY W. LONGFELLOW.{32}

PORTLAND, February 3, 1835.

His first book, in a strict sense, published before his departure, was his translation of the "Coplas of Jorge Manrique" (1833), in which were added to the main poem a few translations of sonnets, the whole being prefaced with an article from "The North American Review" on the "Moral and Devotional Poetry of Spain." It was these works which had attracted the attention of Professor Ticknor, and had led to results so important.

The young professor sailed at the time mentioned, accompanied by his wife and two young ladies, her friends.