Letter from Frances Miller Seward to William Henry Seward, February 20, 1831
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Letter from Frances Miller Seward to William Henry Seward, February 20, 1831
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student editorTranscriber:spp:crb
Distributor:Seward Family Papers Project
Institution:University of Rochester
Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections
Date:1831-02-20
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Letter from Frances Miller Seward to William Henry Seward, February 20, 1831
action: sent
sender:
Frances Seward
Person
Name: Frances Seward
Birth: 1805-09-24
Death: 1865-06-21
Person
location:
Auburn NY
Place
Name: City: Auburn
County: Cayuga
State: NY
Country: US
Place
receiver:
William Seward
Person
Name: William Seward
Birth: 1801-05-16
Death: 1872-10-10
Person
location:
Albany NY
Place
Name: Delevan House City: Albany
County:
State: NY
Country: US
Place
transcription: djg
revision: dxt 2015-09-25
<>
Page 1
Sunday Morning _ 20th
My Dear Henry, I about half concluded to go to church to day but it has
commenced snowing again and the prospect is forbidding I believe I shall
wait for fairer skies, may be they will come next June. I sat up last night
until 12 oclock to finish reading the “Water Witch” this morning I am more
blind. My dreams were about the burning ship and the devoted Eudora, and
“thine and thine only” was constantly singing in my ears. Except the two
or three last chapters I think the book very uninteresting. Many parts very
improbable. The only characters that at all interested me were the “Skimmer”
and “Eudora”. Alida is as insipid as Coopers
Name: James Cooper
Birth: 1789-09-15
Death: 1851-09-14
heroines usually are. I cannot
imagine the necessity for Eudora’s appearing in the character of Sea Drift[ . ]
Reason:
Friday morning I sent my last letter. in the afternoon Clary
Name: Clarinda McClallen
Birth: 1794
Death: 1862-09-05
went with
George
Name: George Wood
Birth: 1806
Death: 1844-02-06
and Debby Wood
Name: Deborah Wood Bronson
Birth: 1810
Death: 1888-03-16
out to Cayuga
Name: Cayuga County City:
County:
State: NY
Country: US
to bring Maria
of the afternoon here. Underwood
Name: Amos Underwood
Birth: 1791-12-22
Death: 1846-06-23Certainty: Probable
called to tea Pa
Name: Elijah Miller
Birth: 1772-04-11
Death: 1851-11-13
who
continues unwell yet
said he dined with you on Wednesday. Miss Miller
accompany her to Serenes
Name: Serene Birdsall
Birth: 1802
Death:
. Mrs Horner
Name: Elizabeth Horner
Birth: 1776
Death: 1864-10-17Certainty: Possible
dear good woman spent the evening
here I was very glad on Pa’s account he was very sociable. Mrs Horner said
James
he has gone on to Ohio. About nine Edward
The Govenors
Name: Enos Throop
Birth: 1784-08-21
Death: 1874-11-01
dinner reminds me of a party of his
lady’s
Name: Evelina Throop
Birth: 1795-08-07
Death: 1834-06-29
that I attended once
when a great variety of things were sent round and nothing that could be
eaten, the blancmange tasted more of the colouring than any of the other
ingredients and the ice cream was as salt as sea water. Mrs Throop of
course has nothing to do with preparing the entertainment but I think if
she knew good from evil she might dismiss a poor cook and employ a good
one. After reading your letter twice and hearing Clary read a few chapters in
the Water Witch I went to bed and dreamed all night about you and Mr
Name: Albert Tracy
Birth: 1793-06-17
Death: 1859-09-12
and
Mrs Tracy
Name: Harriett Tracy
Birth: 1800-03-09
Death: 1876-03
. Yesterday Augustus
Name: Augustus Seward
Birth: 1820-05-18
Death: 1889-05-08
was honored by a visit from Master Thomas Webb Hills
Name: Thomas Hills
Birth: 1825
Death: 1831-12-01
who is rather a
boisterous little gentleman, he tore up my patterns
broke Fred’s
Name: Frederick Seward
Birth: 1830-07-08
Death: 1915-04-25
rattle box, pulled
the hairs out of Hobbys [
]
Alternate Text: and tail and
teased me for ‘more nuts’ more apples &c. Grandma
Name: Paulina Miller
Birth: 1751
Death: 1835-10-03
waxed exceedingly wroth
Page 2
because they left the door open upon her so often, remonstrated against having
such company again with such a shrill voice, and finally adjourned
down into the kitchen to es escape further annoyance. She was soon followed
by the two urchins who commenced operations down in the dining room whence
she was glad once more to retreat up stairs. Pa had f very fortunately gone to
the office. Clary said Thomas looked so much like Eleaser
not endure him. Sarah
Name: Sarah Lewis
Birth:
Death:
thought his eyes
were too round. Fred and myself
were the only two who were suited. I could not help feeling kindly towards the
little fellow because he was a little boy and Fred would laugh outright when
the the little monkeys came rushing into the room to give “Freddy a kiss”
it was the height of his ambition to sit between them on the settee and listen
to their boisterous mirth. Augustus said he wished Thomas could live
here always. Clary went up to see Lazette
Name: Lazette Worden
Birth: 1803-11-01
Death: 1875-10-03
in the afternoon. Worden had
just had a bruse about going to the ball. Lazette wants to go and he
will neither take her himself or let her go with any one else. To make my–
self understood I must go back and tell you that at the time Hugh McLallen
and Clary went to Jordan
Name: City: Jordan
County: Onondaga County
State: NY
Country: US
they went up to get Lazette to go with them. She
knew
she could not go without giving great offence so she staid at home. Worden
Name: Alvah Worden
Birth: 1797-03-06
Death: 1856-02-16
was
very angry when he heard of it and has been constantly wrangling about Hugh
ever since. When she proposed going to the ball he said she wanted to go
to see Hugh Mclallen that she always was addicted to low company
no decent people had any respect for her and a thousand of the same
ridiculous things he has said so often, finally concluded by saying he
intended to send word to Pa to keep Hugh away from there, poor
Hugh he never was guilty of the crime of going there but once and
for Pa he does not even know that Clary went to ride with him.
I do think Worden is the most absurd, inconsistent, tyrannical, unfeeling
monster I ever met with and ‘if there is any body I do hate” &c.
The military ball is to be on the 22d I know but three or four of the
managers out of ten our twelve. Peter
Name: Peter Crosby
Birth:
Death:
has a ticket and I believe I
should
not go as I am afraid he will expect me to dance with him. I suppose
Page 3
there will be a great crowd there, had the managers of the cotillion parties
been civil enough to allow me a choice I should have attended some
of those parties, but it is no great disappointment as I never enjoyed
dancing much. Clary has gone to church this afternoon says I must tell you
she feels very mean about keeping such low company. Pa has given up all inten–
tion of going to Albany indeed I do not think it would be prudent for
him in the present state of his health, he does not go out of the house more
than once during the day and sometimes not at all. Augustus gets the little
letter you wrote him and reads it every Sunday. I have just been reading
for him the words that he has not learned to spell yet.
It appears pretty generally believed that Jane Dill
Name: Jane Perry
Birth:
Death: 1877-01-07Certainty: Probable
is going to marry John Hulbert
Name: John Hulbert
Birth: 1802-12-28
Death: 1865-11-19Certainty: Probable
I have heard confidentially a long story about this but Clary says I may tell
you. You know it has always been understood here that Jane was engaged to
James Horner, he never offered himself to her until this fall by way of letters.
She returned for answer that she could not accept his proposal without the con–
sent of some of her friends, (meaning it is supposed J. Hulbert ), a second letter was
answ[ ered by desiring ]
Reason: wax-seal to be excused,
and a third in which James desired an ex-
plana[ tion was answ ]
Reason: wax-sealerd by, “I cannot and
shall not give any.” So much of [
the
]
Reason:
story was told M. Harris
Name: Eliza Horner
Birth:
Death: 1876-10-31
, the
remainder comes from Debby to Maria.
Jane had been staying a few days with Debby during which time she was very melancholy.
one might after they had retired to bed Jane (sleeping with Mrs Nealy
supposing her Aunt was asleep got up went to a drawer and took out a letter which
she read with many sighs and tears, returned it to the drawer and retired.
The next day Jane being absent Mrs Nealy presuming on her right as an aunt and probably never
being troubled with a very delicate sense of honor, after communicating her intentions
to Debby went from the drawer took out the letter and made herself acquainted with the contents
The letter was from John Hulbert containing many protestations of love communicating his happi–
ness in the assurance of her love and concluding with, “though you acknowledge you love
me you say you can never become my wife. Could your dear sister Caroline
to see you the mother of her child.” The hypocrite! he who has murdered his wife by
unkindness and this very sister who has thus acknowledged her love was the first to
tell to strangers the wretchedness of that sisters life. I think were I single my marrying
Worden would be something like a parable case. But I am digressing. After reading the
letter and after Debby had told George who advised secresy and an unmediated restora
tion of the letter it was returned to the drawer, but Debby could not keep the secret
although it implicated so deeply her own sister. They will undoubtedly be married
by the time one year ‘one little year’ has passed since the death of this much loved
sister. This is a strange incomprehensible world. James Horner did not of course call on
Miss Jane when he passed through and the rest of the family are at deadly feud with
her ladyship. She goes but seldom to Debby’s, and spends weeks with the Hulberts. so ends my
story. It is now Sunday night Clary and Caroline Miller
Name: Caroline Miller
Birth: 1774
Death: 1810
have just gone to Serenes
and I have come up stairs to say good night to you and then to bed your
own Frances.
Page 4
443.
William H. Seward
Albany
Auburn NY Feb 22
Type: postmark
Name: William Seward
Birth: 1801-05-16
Death: 1872-10-10
Frances A Seward
20 Feb 1831
Sunday Morning _ 20th
My Dear Henry, I about half concluded to go to church to day but it has
commenced snowing again and the prospect is forbidding I believe I shall
wait for fairer skies, may be they will come next June. I sat up last night
until 12 oclock to finish reading the “Water Witch” this morning I am more
blind. My dreams were about the burning ship and the devoted Eudora, and
“thine and thine only” was constantly singing in my ears. Except the two
or three last chapters I think the book very uninteresting. Many parts very
improbable. The only characters that at all interested me were the “Skimmer”
and “Eudora”. Alida is as insipid as Coopers
Person
imagine the necessity for Eudora’s appearing in the character of Sea Drift[ . ]
Supplied
Friday morning I sent my last letter. in the afternoon Clary
Person
Person
and Debby Wood
Person
Place
Unknown
out. Mrs HillUnknown
spent
mostof the afternoon here. Underwood
Person
Person
said he dined with you on Wednesday. Miss Miller
Unknown
called for Clary toaccompany her to Serenes
Person
Person
here I was very glad on Pa’s account he was very sociable. Mrs Horner said
James
Unknown
had called to see you two or three times
but you was always absenthe has gone on to Ohio. About nine Edward
Unknown
brought me your letter of Teusdsay The Govenors
Person
Person
when a great variety of things were sent round and nothing that could be
eaten, the blancmange tasted more of the colouring than any of the other
ingredients and the ice cream was as salt as sea water. Mrs Throop of
course has nothing to do with preparing the entertainment but I think if
she knew good from evil she might dismiss a poor cook and employ a good
one. After reading your letter twice and hearing Clary read a few chapters in
the Water Witch I went to bed and dreamed all night about you and Mr
Person
Mrs Tracy
Person
Person
Person
broke Fred’s
Person
Alternate Text
teased me for ‘more nuts’ more apples &c. Grandma
Person
because they left the door open upon her so often, remonstrated against having
such company again with such a shrill voice, and finally adjourned
down into the kitchen to es escape further annoyance. She was soon followed
by the two urchins who commenced operations down in the dining room whence
she was glad once more to retreat up stairs. Pa had f very fortunately gone to
the office. Clary said Thomas looked so much like Eleaser
Unknown
that she could
not endure him. Sarah
Person
were the only two who were suited. I could not help feeling kindly towards the
little fellow because he was a little boy and Fred would laugh outright when
the the little monkeys came rushing into the room to give “Freddy a kiss”
it was the height of his ambition to sit between them on the settee and listen
to their boisterous mirth. Augustus said he wished Thomas could live
here always. Clary went up to see Lazette
Person
just had a bruse about going to the ball. Lazette wants to go and he
will neither take her himself or let her go with any one else. To make my–
self understood I must go back and tell you that at the time Hugh McLallen
and Clary went to Jordan
Place
she could not go without giving great offence so she staid at home. Worden
Person
very angry when he heard of it and has been constantly wrangling about Hugh
ever since. When she proposed going to the ball he said she wanted to go
to see Hugh Mclallen that she always was addicted to low company
no decent people had any respect for her and a thousand of the same
ridiculous things he has said so often, finally concluded by saying he
intended to send word to Pa to keep Hugh away from there, poor
Hugh he never was guilty of the crime of going there but once and
for Pa he does not even know that Clary went to ride with him.
I do think Worden is the most absurd, inconsistent, tyrannical, unfeeling
monster I ever met with and ‘if there is any body I do hate” &c.
The military ball is to be on the 22d I know but three or four of the
managers out of ten our twelve. Peter
Person
not go as I am afraid he will expect me to dance with him. I suppose
there will be a great crowd there, had the managers of the cotillion parties
been civil enough to allow me a choice I should have attended some
of those parties, but it is no great disappointment as I never enjoyed
dancing much. Clary has gone to church this afternoon says I must tell you
she feels very mean about keeping such low company. Pa has given up all inten–
tion of going to Albany indeed I do not think it would be prudent for
him in the present state of his health, he does not go out of the house more
than once during the day and sometimes not at all. Augustus gets the little
letter you wrote him and reads it every Sunday. I have just been reading
for him the words that he has not learned to spell yet.
It appears pretty generally believed that Jane Dill
Person
Person
I have heard confidentially a long story about this but Clary says I may tell
you. You know it has always been understood here that Jane was engaged to
James Horner, he never offered himself to her until this fall by way of letters.
She returned for answer that she could not accept his proposal without the con–
sent of some of her friends, (meaning it is supposed J. Hulbert ), a second letter was
answ[ ered by desiring ]
Supplied
plana[ tion was answ ]
Supplied
Supplied
story was told M. Harris
Unknown
by E. HornerPerson
Jane had been staying a few days with Debby during which time she was very melancholy.
one might after they had retired to bed Jane (sleeping with Mrs Nealy
Unknown
her aunt)supposing her Aunt was asleep got up went to a drawer and took out a letter which
she read with many sighs and tears, returned it to the drawer and retired.
The next day Jane being absent Mrs Nealy presuming on her right as an aunt and probably never
being troubled with a very delicate sense of honor, after communicating her intentions
to Debby went from the drawer took out the letter and made herself acquainted with the contents
The letter was from John Hulbert containing many protestations of love communicating his happi–
ness in the assurance of her love and concluding with, “though you acknowledge you love
me you say you can never become my wife. Could your dear sister Caroline
Unknown
look down from Heaven I am confident nothing
would make her more happy than to see you fill her placeto see you the mother of her child.” The hypocrite! he who has murdered his wife by
unkindness and this very sister who has thus acknowledged her love was the first to
tell to strangers the wretchedness of that sisters life. I think were I single my marrying
Worden would be something like a parable case. But I am digressing. After reading the
letter and after Debby had told George who advised secresy and an unmediated restora
tion of the letter it was returned to the drawer, but Debby could not keep the secret
although it implicated so deeply her own sister. They will undoubtedly be married
by the time one year ‘one little year’ has passed since the death of this much loved
sister. This is a strange incomprehensible world. James Horner did not of course call on
Miss Jane when he passed through and the rest of the family are at deadly feud with
her ladyship. She goes but seldom to Debby’s, and spends weeks with the Hulberts. so ends my
story. It is now Sunday night Clary and Caroline Miller
Person
and I have come up stairs to say good night to you and then to bed your
own Frances.
443.
William H. Seward
Albany
Auburn NY Feb 22
Stamp
Person
20 Feb 1831
date:
Sunday, February 20, 1831
receiver:
sender:
year: