Letter from Frances Miller Seward to William Henry Seward, February 25, 1831
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Letter from Frances Miller Seward to William Henry Seward, February 25, 1831
transcriberTranscriber:spp:djg
student editorTranscriber:spp:saz
Distributor:Seward Family Papers Project
Institution:University of Rochester
Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections
Date:1831-02-25
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Letter from Frances Miller Seward to William Henry Seward, February 25, 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 2015-09-29
<>
Page 1
Teusday Friday night _
My Dear Henry. I have just come home from Lazette
Name: Lazette Worden
Birth: 1803-11-01
Death: 1875-10-03
where I have
spent the day with Fred
Name: Frederick Seward
Birth: 1830-07-08
Death: 1915-04-25
. Last night I wen sent up for her to come
down here but she had gone to meeting with Dr Bradford
Name: George Bradford
Birth: 1776-05-09
Death: 1883-10-31
, to day she
had given me an account of the performance which was just the same that
Finney
Name: Charles Finney
Birth: 1792-08-29
Death: 1875-08-16
has had a hundred times since before. I do not know who this
clergyman is, but Lazette was so much disgusted she very much regretted
having complied with the Dr’s entreaties. This afternoon Mrs Hamilton
been up to Lazettes took tea there, she said when she first came in that
there had been a great many praying for Lazette, she appears to have
set her heart on converting her, was very anxious that she should accompany
them to meeting to night. Lazette refused and told her plainly just
what she thought of the last nights performance, the more extravagant
Lazette was in her expressions of dissatisfaction the more Mrs Hamilton
seemed pleased and called it the “strivings of the spirit”. She said
such people as Lazette who were as frank in the expression of their sen—
timents were much more easily wrought upon that such as I, who
she said was “plaistered over with self rhiteousness”. I thought this
rather a harsh expression in as much as I had been a silint silent
observer of the conversation occasionally smiling at Lazettes warmth.
Bartlett
one night, did not sleep any, sent for Steele
is now among the converted. Mrs Hamilton said that Theodore
to have a conversation with Pa
Name: Elijah Miller
Birth: 1772-04-11
Death: 1851-11-13
, I hope he will not attempt it I know Pa would
not be pleased. She is full in the faith that you too will soon become a subject of
the operations of the spirit, wanted to know if you had not written any thing about
the revival in Albany. She said nothing to me said nothing to me did not even propose to me
to go to their meetings, was much grieved that she could not prevail
upon Lazette and Worden
Name: Alvah Worden
Birth: 1797-03-06
Death: 1856-02-16
to go. Lazette is very much afraid
that Spring
Name: Spring Pet
Birth:
Death:
Page 2
has been bitten by a mad dog they were going to confine him this evening. they
were unwilling to kill him until they ascertained the truth. A mad dog was
known to be in the village this week, he bit a dog belonging to John Dill
Name: John Dill
Birth:
Death: 1866
.
this dog of Dills has since fought with Spring. Worden separated them but did
not discover any place where Spring had been bitten. Dill thought he discovered
symptoms of madness and killed his dog. Capt. Warden
Name: Allen Warden
Birth: 1781-02-26
Death: 1854-10-31
who I believe is a very
good man was up there this evening, he had been 8 miles out of the village
to make enquires about the dog which but Dills’, discovered that there was
no doubt about his madness, he had bitten a number of other animals all of
which became mad, he had come home and up four dogs, one of his
own, one [ Saturlees ]
Reason: , one Dills, one Leonards
Spring also be secured. It gave me the hypo. I have always suffered so much dread
from the hydrophobia. I wanted them to kill Spring immediately but Lazette
was not willing as he had licked her thumb which was sore since this affair
happened and she would rather be convinced about his being mad. I thought
in the days of my old pet Trip
Name: Trip Pet
Birth:
Death:
, that I would never willingly have
another
dog in the house, although I am extravagantly fond of them, but I do not
think the gratification is any compensation for the apprehension which I
suffer. Sunday morning — Last night came your letter of Wednesday. Clary
Name: Clarinda McClallen
Birth: 1794
Death: 1862-09-05
Edward
Name: Joseph Pitney
Birth: 1786-11-18
Death: 1853-04-20
. Mrs Pitney
Name: Cornelia Pitney
Birth: 1811-10-06
Death: 1838-05-09
and Mary
Name: Mary Morgan
Birth: 1813-02-15
Death: 1893-10-14
had gone to Aurora
Name: City: Aurora
County: Cayuga
State: NY
Country: US
, so we lost
all that, I never saw any one so
important as the Dr was in my life, he considers it very undignified to smile
on any account, is rather less the gentleman in his own home than any where else.
I never saw a man who had lived so long in respectable society who made so
many attempts and failed so wholly in courteous behavior, he he is happily
ignorant of all this and considers himself a pattern for all the country round.
he said he had recieved two or three letters from you but never expressed the
least gratitude for your obligingness nor the least regret for your fruitless
journey to Troy
Name: Troy Female Seminary City: Troy
County: Rensselaer
State: NY
Country: US
any more than if you had been regularly hired to
transact this
business for him. I addressed all my conversation to Dr Bradford who was there and who
I consider much the most amiable and interesting character of the two.
Page 3
Cornelia
trimmed the astral lamp and made fire in the hall occasionally. Clary was provoked
I was diverted with the performance. M. Harris
Name: Maria Harris
Birth:
Death: 1835-12-05Certainty: Possible
Debby
Name: Deborah Wood Bronson
Birth: 1810
Death: 1888-03-16
and George
Name: George Wood
Birth: 1806
Death: 1844-02-06
were there spending
the evening . James Horner
Name: Eliza Horner
Birth:
Death: 1876-10-31
at
our house yesterday and I send this letter by him. afternoon. I have just return–
ned from church. Dr Rudd
Name: John Rudd
Birth: 1779-05-24
Death: 1848-04-15
gave us a very good sermon. Serene
Name: Serene Birdsall
Birth: 1802
Death:
and Clary went
to the second presbyterian church, Dr Richards
Name: James Richards
Birth: 1767-10-29
Death: 1843-08-02
preached. It is a
most lovely day, the snow will not continue long with this sunshine
Augustus
Name: Augustus Seward
Birth: 1826-10-01
Death: 1876-09-11
can
hardly be kept in the house. Fred is contented now I
have come home he sits beside me playing with the tin trunk little
does he know of the value of its contents. Lazette was at Church she says
there is no alteration in Springs appearance yet. I am going up there this evening with
Serene. We called at Compstons
Name: Samuel Cumpston
Birth: 1784-08-18
Death: 1850-04-03
last evening on our return from Dr
Pitneys
when we passed the office Edward went in and got your letter. Pa. went
to Seneca Falls
Name: City: Seneca Falls
County: Seneca County
State: NY
Country: US
yesterday has not
returned yet. Yesterday it was so pleasant I
went over to the house as we had discovered tracks up on to the steps, found all
safe, the barrel of apples frozen hard as stones and every thing in the lour part
of the ho[ use owning ]
Reason: wax-seal to the
dampness, covered with frost, the gate was frozen
so that [ I was obliged ]
Reason: wax-seal to climb
over the fence, if Mrs Hills
Name: Sarah Hills
Birth: 1796
Death: 1863-04-22Certainty: Possible
saw me I
expect
she will [ drop my ]
Reason: wax-seal acquaintance. Sarah
Bartlett
Reason:
all in one night. So Mrs Hamiltons prayers are all answered with regard to her
own family, John Hardenburgh
Name: John Hardenbergh
Birth: 1798
Death: 1862-06-11
is another,
Elicta Maxwell
heard Mrs
Name: Lanah Fitch
Birth: 1802
Death: 1866-07-16Certainty: Possible
. Clary said there was considerable weeping in
meeting this
afternoon. I should be almost afraid to send this letter to any one but you. I should be
fearful they would think it my intention to ridicule things that are sacred.
You know. how far this is from my heart. Dont you remember our having for a by
word, “wont take no, for an answer”, this was the expression of the same Bill Hart
because he thought so much of Lazette. What bail can it be C. Archer
I will not allow that you are more interested about the Tracy's
Name: Harriett Tracy
Birth: 1800-03-09
Death: 1876-03
Name: Albert Tracy
Birth: 1793-06-17
Death: 1859-09-12
than I am,
of course
you esteem them more because you know them and I do not. Will they not stop
and make us a visit when they return home in the Spring, I know they will
be disappointed in me just as every one is who knows you or Lazette first. you like
Tracy more than Weed
Name: Thurlow Weed
Birth: 1797-11-15
Death: 1882-11-22
do
you not? or are you more proud of his preference?
I must dispatch this letter to James, he goes
in the morning – your own Frances
Page 4
Teusday Friday night _
My Dear Henry. I have just come home from Lazette
Person
spent the day with Fred
Person
down here but she had gone to meeting with Dr Bradford
Person
had given me an account of the performance which was just the same that
Finney
Person
clergyman is, but Lazette was so much disgusted she very much regretted
having complied with the Dr’s entreaties. This afternoon Mrs Hamilton
Unknown
hasbeen up to Lazettes took tea there, she said when she first came in that
there had been a great many praying for Lazette, she appears to have
set her heart on converting her, was very anxious that she should accompany
them to meeting to night. Lazette refused and told her plainly just
what she thought of the last nights performance, the more extravagant
Lazette was in her expressions of dissatisfaction the more Mrs Hamilton
seemed pleased and called it the “strivings of the spirit”. She said
such people as Lazette who were as frank in the expression of their sen—
timents were much more easily wrought upon that such as I, who
she said was “plaistered over with self rhiteousness”. I thought this
rather a harsh expression in as much as I had been a silint silent
observer of the conversation occasionally smiling at Lazettes warmth.
Bartlett
Unknown
has been brought to see the error of his
ways. went to meetingone night, did not sleep any, sent for Steele
Unknown
in the morning, and is now among the converted. Mrs Hamilton said that Theodore
Unknown
was
very anxiousto have a conversation with Pa
Person
not be pleased. She is full in the faith that you too will soon become a subject of
the operations of the spirit, wanted to know if you had not written any thing about
the revival in Albany. She said nothing to me said nothing to me did not even propose to me
to go to their meetings, was much grieved that she could not prevail
upon Lazette and Worden
Person
Person
has been bitten by a mad dog they were going to confine him this evening. they
were unwilling to kill him until they ascertained the truth. A mad dog was
known to be in the village this week, he bit a dog belonging to John Dill
Person
this dog of Dills has since fought with Spring. Worden separated them but did
not discover any place where Spring had been bitten. Dill thought he discovered
symptoms of madness and killed his dog. Capt. Warden
Person
good man was up there this evening, he had been 8 miles out of the village
to make enquires about the dog which but Dills’, discovered that there was
no doubt about his madness, he had bitten a number of other animals all of
which became mad, he had come home and up four dogs, one of his
own, one [ Saturlees ]
Supplied
Unknown
, and then
came to advise thatSpring also be secured. It gave me the hypo. I have always suffered so much dread
from the hydrophobia. I wanted them to kill Spring immediately but Lazette
was not willing as he had licked her thumb which was sore since this affair
happened and she would rather be convinced about his being mad. I thought
in the days of my old pet Trip
Person
dog in the house, although I am extravagantly fond of them, but I do not
think the gratification is any compensation for the apprehension which I
suffer. Sunday morning — Last night came your letter of Wednesday. Clary
Person
Edward
Unknown
and myself went in the evening to call at
Dr Pitney’sPerson
Person
and Mary
Person
Place
important as the Dr was in my life, he considers it very undignified to smile
on any account, is rather less the gentleman in his own home than any where else.
I never saw a man who had lived so long in respectable society who made so
many attempts and failed so wholly in courteous behavior, he he is happily
ignorant of all this and considers himself a pattern for all the country round.
he said he had recieved two or three letters from you but never expressed the
least gratitude for your obligingness nor the least regret for your fruitless
journey to Troy
Place
business for him. I addressed all my conversation to Dr Bradford who was there and who
I consider much the most amiable and interesting character of the two.
Cornelia
Unknown
played on the 300$ piano and the Dr
accompanied her with his voice,trimmed the astral lamp and made fire in the hall occasionally. Clary was provoked
I was diverted with the performance. M. Harris
Person
Person
Person
the evening . James Horner
Unknown
called while we were there. James called with ElizaPerson
our house yesterday and I send this letter by him. afternoon. I have just return–
ned from church. Dr Rudd
Person
Person
to the second presbyterian church, Dr Richards
Person
most lovely day, the snow will not continue long with this sunshine
Augustus
Person
have come home he sits beside me playing with the tin trunk little
does he know of the value of its contents. Lazette was at Church she says
there is no alteration in Springs appearance yet. I am going up there this evening with
Serene. We called at Compstons
Person
when we passed the office Edward went in and got your letter. Pa. went
to Seneca Falls
Place
went over to the house as we had discovered tracks up on to the steps, found all
safe, the barrel of apples frozen hard as stones and every thing in the lour part
of the ho[ use owning ]
Supplied
so that [ I was obliged ]
Supplied
Person
she will [ drop my ]
Supplied
Unknown
has become a [
convert
]
Supplied
all in one night. So Mrs Hamiltons prayers are all answered with regard to her
own family, John Hardenburgh
Person
Unknown
another. I
haveheard Mrs
Unknown
and Miss FitchPerson
afternoon. I should be almost afraid to send this letter to any one but you. I should be
fearful they would think it my intention to ridicule things that are sacred.
You know. how far this is from my heart. Dont you remember our having for a by
word, “wont take no, for an answer”, this was the expression of the same Bill Hart
Unknown
that you met in Troy, he was a very clever young man & I always liked himbecause he thought so much of Lazette. What bail can it be C. Archer
Unknown
has married!I will not allow that you are more interested about the Tracy's
People
you esteem them more because you know them and I do not. Will they not stop
and make us a visit when they return home in the Spring, I know they will
be disappointed in me just as every one is who knows you or Lazette first. you like
Tracy more than Weed
Person
I must dispatch this letter to James, he goes
in the morning – your own Frances
date:
Friday, February 25, 1831
receiver:
sender:
year: