Letter from Louisa Cornelia Seward Canfield to Frances Miller Seward, December 4, 1825

  • Posted on: 9 March 2016
  • By: admin
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Letter from Louisa Cornelia Canfield to Frances Miller Seward, December 4, 1825
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transcriber

Transcriber:spp:sss

student editor

Transcriber:spp:mah

Distributor:Seward Family Digital Archive

Institution:University of Rochester

Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections

Date:1825-12-04

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Letter from Louisa Cornelia Canfield to Frances Miller Seward, December 4, 1825

action: sent

sender: Louisa Canfield
Birth: 1805  Death: 1839-01-04

location: Florida, NY

receiver: Frances Seward
Birth: 1805-09-24  Death: 1865-06-21

location: Auburn, NY

transcription: sss 

revision: crb 2016-02-02

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Page 1

Florida December 4th 1825
My dear Sister
After a travel of 3 weeks your dear
little letter has arrived to cheer my loneliness, it has made
me glad I was going to say for a hundred times and
I’ll tell you for why, chiefly because it tells me of your
returning health, of Lazette’s
Birth: 1803-11-01 Death: 1875-10-03
happiness, and lastly that
my Sister had not quite forgotten & deserted me
with the multitude. I do rejoice with you in Lazette
happiness and sympathize with you in your loss –
if my congratulations come not a day after the fair
give my love to them both and tell them I wish them
as much happiness as health wealth & love for each other
can bestow. I doubt not the latter consequently their
present comfort and prospect for the future
I can hardly conceive how you look and feel and
do without your Sister, but I am glad you can see her
so often. Your picture of her situation & your own
kind invitations almost persuade
To influence by argument, advice, or intreaty • To convince by arguments, or reasons offered •
me to runaway
to come to you (before 1826) now I think if Lazette & Worden
Birth: 1797-03-06 Death: 1856-02-16

could make a jaunt to Florida I should be greatly in-
Page 2

inclined to return with them, if they are not perfectly happy
and contented in Auburn & you can spare them so long
send them here, & I conclude they will return quite well
satisfied with home, for be it believed Florida is 10 times
more despicable and contemptible than ever, as the people
and my good luck will have it I have no communion with
but very few of its inhabitants. I am the more lost since
our dear Brother B.
Birth: 1793-08-23 Death: 1841-02-24
has left us, I suppose Papa
Birth: 1768-12-05 Death: 1849-08-24
has written
to Henry
Birth: 1801-05-16 Death: 1872-10-10
all about it, oh it is a sore trial to us all I can
feel for him his blasted prospects & happiness all all are
gone at once, if we only knew that he was not driven to
despair we could give it up – one week last evening since he
left Summerville. I cannot endure the thought that he never
is to return to us anymore, he has been a dear kind Brother
to me, risked all he had in the world to promote my happiness.
Washington
Birth: 1808-08-26 Death: 1888-12-07
is at home but so much engaged that I scarce
ever see ^him^ but a few moments at a time. Grand Ma
Birth: 1742-06-02 Death: 1831-10-21
has
gone visiting & I am almost overcome with Henry’s trouble
after all this you will think there is a good deal selfishness
in my wishing to see you ‘tis very true but independent
of Florida and all its disagreeables I find there is much necessity
for my being at home but if I could I would delight to spend
a few weeks with you but quite despair of being gratified.
Page 3

Report says (but I cannot say how correctly) with regard
to Wiltse
Unknown
& Miss Wilkin
Birth: 1802-09-15 Death: 1838-10-16
that when he came down
this summer that he did make a formal offer of his
heart & hand (which if practice makes perfect
he must know how to do) That she said Frances did
accept the same in all due form of an engagement
with gladness, and all things were making ready to
bring matters to a speedy conclusion, so the groom elect
said but as evil luck would have it Miss W’s Brother
Birth: 1793-12-17 Death: 1866-03-11

ascertained in the mean time that Wiltse had actually
shown her letters and made derision of them –
with much difficulty they
persuaded
To influence by argument, advice, or intreaty • To convince by arguments, or reasons offered •
her to discard him
this story is generally believed
I saw Wiltse in New York & Marcia
Birth: 1794-07-23 Death: 1839-10-25
concluded it was
about the time he was telling the people he had come
to take his Wife, but that’s not the only mistake Wiltse
has made. I am mad that I have devoted so much
paper to so poor a subject do not let it be two
months before I hear from you again. I hope my
dear Sister you did not burn up Henrys ^list of^ unanswered
letters, something must have been with I suppose
Ask Aunt C
Birth: 1793-05-01 Death: 1862-09-05
- if she is not tired of love conferences

[left Margin] Your Papa
Birth: 1772-04-11 Death: 1851-11-13
has sent down a pattern or a pattent on a
plough & I do not know which to Papa of Jo. L. Richardsons
Birth: 1776-06-05 Death: 1853-04

invention – truly your town must be fast improving!!
give my love to Henry and all the family.
affectionately
Your Sis
LCS.

Page 4

Mrs. William H. Seward
Auburn
Cayuga County
N.Y.
Florida
5 th Dec
Free
S.S.S.P.M.
Hand Shiftx

Frances Seward

Birth: 1805-09-24 Death: 1865-06-21
Cornelia Seward 1825