Letter from Frances Miller Seward, to William Henry Seward, December 30, 1832
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Letter from Frances Miller Seward, to William Henry Seward, December 30,
1832
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Distributor:Seward Family Digital Archive
Institution:University of Rochester
Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections
Date:1832-12-30
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Letter from Frances Miller Seward, to William Henry Seward, December 30, 1832
action: sent
sender: Frances Seward
Birth: 1805-09-24
Death: 1865-06-21
location: Unknown
receiver: William Seward
Birth: 1801-05-16
Death: 1872-10-10
location: Albany, NY
transcription: sss
revision: ekk 2015-05-28
<>
Page
1
Sunday evening 30th
My Dear Henry, I sent my last letter on Friday. I do not recollect one
thing that occurred on that day worth mentioning. Saturday morning
your first letter came. I was glad to hear of your safe arrival.
I am very very much disappointed about Mrs Cary
destroyed many pleasant anticipations for the winter. I think
your landlord
be very unwilling to take rooms in the third story. Mrs Beardsley
was so situated last winter and I thought very unpleasantly.
She could see no company in her room. I used to think it a task
myself to climb all the stairs to her apartment and I was
in the same house - the servants were not attentive and her
nurse was employed most of the time in running up and down
stairs. Her only inducement for remaining in those rooms was
that they looked upon the street and the children were amused
by standing at the windows, we should not have even this
advantage. You will perhaps think I ought not to express so much
dissatisfaction without proposing some remedy - this I am unable
to do knowing nothing about the situation of the other apart-
ments. Mrs Mott
companions imaginable in the parlour and Mrs Bronson
Mrs Yates
intimate
Of Mrs Foster
Alternate Text: was always polite
and obliging.
Page
2
Saturday being a fine day we went out to make some calls. I went
to Lazette
would all go to the Ball tomorrow evening. I called at Dr Rudds
and found no one at home. Mrs Sherwoods
at Hulberts
home that evening. Mrs Hulbert was in much better spirits than I
have seen her since her husband's death. At Porters — found Mr
Mrs Porter
to tea and after tea went to see Mrs Horner
walk and found the house shut up, all from home— the night being
very light we concluded to return through lumber street and endeavour
to find Mrs Moffatt
boys and made enquiry but recieved no information, so we continued
our walk round until we came to Cumpstons
and found them all at an oyster supper. Mrs Horner and Eliza
both there. Here we spent the remainder of the evening. Nothing was
said about Carter's being a stage driver until Eliza and her mother
went home then Mrs Cumpston
that morning and offered to take her oath that Clary
Carter. Clary began to make some asseveration to the contrary but
I interrupted her and told her I thought it hardly necessary to contradict
a story of Debby Woods. So we came away. How the Compstons and
Horners are affected I am unable to say but of one thing I am sure that
if they chose to believe so notorious a story teller as Deb I should
make no effort to undecieve them. They believe what she says about
Maria
matter and says if Maria does not take care she will have Mrs
Smith
to occupy so much space.
Page
3
The day has been fine but a headache kept me at home. Augustus
to me all day, his Grandpa
by Peter Parley
Clary had a cold and did not go out. Augustus says I must tell you his
Christmas consisted of a Christmas cake, a little tin soldier, another on horseback
a tin basket and a dancing man, with the candies as usual – & says I must
tell he has kept them all nice. I expected Lazette this evening but the wind has
risen and I fear she will not come. Clary has gone to see Mrs Fosgate
reserve the remainder of my paper to tell you about the Ball tomorrow evening.
Smith
Deb predicts — Monday night or Teusday morning 3 oclock. To begin
with I wish you a happy New Year. I have just returned from the Ball
Clary, Lazette Maria and myself were all there and all pretty much
belles. I have not enjoyed a ball so much in years could I have
seen your dear eyes occasionally singling me out from the crowd
I think I should have been quite happy. I danced every figure but
two which is much more than I ought to do but for once I felt
perfectly well and free from headache and as the young gentlemen
were disposed to be very polite it would have been treasonable to
have refused. I shall feel the effects of it tomorrow and as I cannot
stop to night I thought I would finish this letter. I went to
Lazettes this morning she dear girl had had the toothache all night
and the day before yesterday so I went up to help her finish
a dress to wear on this occasion. The Dr
to extract her tooth but it was easy to night. There were about
ten ladies and as many again gentlemen that I had met before
the rest were all strangers but the party was not so large
as to make dancing unpleasant. Bronson
again and talked and treated me as he used to do before I was
married so I danced twice with him. I wonder if that
five thousand dollars that warms his heart to his old acquaintance
Mc Lallen
Lazettes account — with the others Mr Fosgate
-dervier
George Throop
tomorrow offered to take any thing I wished to send. I shall send this letter
by him if he goes if not by mail tomorrow. Good night dear one. Your own
Frances
My love to Tracy's and Cary's
Page
4
Sunday evening 30th
My Dear Henry, I sent my last letter on Friday. I do not recollect one
thing that occurred on that day worth mentioning. Saturday morning
your first letter came. I was glad to hear of your safe arrival.
I am very very much disappointed about Mrs Cary
Birth: 1788 Death: 1863-06-22
's leaving – it hasdestroyed many pleasant anticipations for the winter. I think
your landlord
Unknown
has not treated you well about the rooms. I shouldbe very unwilling to take rooms in the third story. Mrs Beardsley
Birth: 1815-03-06 Death: 1854-07-16
was so situated last winter and I thought very unpleasantly.
She could see no company in her room. I used to think it a task
myself to climb all the stairs to her apartment and I was
in the same house - the servants were not attentive and her
nurse was employed most of the time in running up and down
stairs. Her only inducement for remaining in those rooms was
that they looked upon the street and the children were amused
by standing at the windows, we should not have even this
advantage. You will perhaps think I ought not to express so much
dissatisfaction without proposing some remedy - this I am unable
to do knowing nothing about the situation of the other apart-
ments. Mrs Mott
Birth: 1793-01-03 Death: 1880-11-11
will certainly be one of
the most intellectual companions imaginable in the parlour and Mrs Bronson
Unknown
ditto.Mrs Yates
Birth: 1814 Death: 1882
I was rather pleased with had she
not been so veryintimate
Inmost; inward • Near; close • Close in friendship or acquaintance • One to whom the thoughts of another are shared without reserve • To share together • To hint; to suggest obscurely; to give slight notice of •
with Mrs
Dix
Birth: 1810 Death: 1884
whom I certainly was not pleased
with.Of Mrs Foster
Unknown
I can say nothing
— her husbandUnknown
[ way ] Alternate Text
and obliging.
Saturday being a fine day we went out to make some calls. I went
to Lazette
Birth: 1803-11-01 Death: 1875-10-03
's in the morning and we came to
the conclusion that wewould all go to the Ball tomorrow evening. I called at Dr Rudds
Birth: 1779-05-24 Death: 1848-04-15
and found no one at home. Mrs Sherwoods
Birth: 1794-02-11 Death: 1866-02-03
, she had the toothache -at Hulberts
Birth: 1780 Death: 1843-01-16
there I found Mrs Howe
Birth: 1808 Death: 1866-04-16
she said she expected her husband
Birth: 1801 Death: 1860-07-15
home that evening. Mrs Hulbert was in much better spirits than I
have seen her since her husband's death. At Porters — found Mr
Birth: 1793-01-06 Death: 1862-11-11
andMrs Porter
Birth: 1803-03-30 Death: 1866-03-02
both at home and very agreeable.
We then came hometo tea and after tea went to see Mrs Horner
Birth: 1780 Death: 1856-12-09
, but had a long coldwalk and found the house shut up, all from home— the night being
very light we concluded to return through lumber street and endeavour
to find Mrs Moffatt
Unknown
– this we did not succeed in – stopped someboys and made enquiry but recieved no information, so we continued
our walk round until we came to Cumpstons
Birth: 1790 Death: 1850-04-03
here we
went inand found them all at an oyster supper. Mrs Horner and Eliza
Birth: 1807 Death: 1876-10-31
were both there. Here we spent the remainder of the evening. Nothing was
said about Carter's being a stage driver until Eliza and her mother
Unknown
went home then Mrs Cumpston
Birth: 1800 Death: 1851-06-04
said that
Debby had been therethat morning and offered to take her oath that Clary
Birth: 1793-05-01 Death: 1862-09-05
had
slanderedCarter. Clary began to make some asseveration to the contrary but
I interrupted her and told her I thought it hardly necessary to contradict
a story of Debby Woods. So we came away. How the Compstons and
Horners are affected I am unable to say but of one thing I am sure that
if they chose to believe so notorious a story teller as Deb I should
make no effort to undecieve them. They believe what she says about
Maria
Death: 1835-12-05
and express considerable ill will.
Debby makes no secret of the matter and says if Maria does not take care she will have Mrs
Smith
Unknown
to settle with
shortly. This is rather an unworthy subjectto occupy so much space.
The day has been fine but a headache kept me at home. Augustus
Birth: 1826-10-01 Death: 1876-09-11
has readto me all day, his Grandpa
Birth: 1772-04-11 Death: 1851-11-13
has bought him a new book.
The first book of History
Publisher: Richardson, Lord & Holbrook Place of Publication:Boston, MA Date: 1832
by Peter Parley
Unknown
. with which he is delighted and wishes
to read in it all the time.Clary had a cold and did not go out. Augustus says I must tell you his
Christmas consisted of a Christmas cake, a little tin soldier, another on horseback
a tin basket and a dancing man, with the candies as usual – & says I must
tell he has kept them all nice. I expected Lazette this evening but the wind has
risen and I fear she will not come. Clary has gone to see Mrs Fosgate
Death: 1848-03-10
. I mustreserve the remainder of my paper to tell you about the Ball tomorrow evening.
Smith
Unknown
is one of the managers. Maria may meet
his wife and have that settlementDeb predicts — Monday night or Teusday morning 3 oclock. To begin
with I wish you a happy New Year. I have just returned from the Ball
Clary, Lazette Maria and myself were all there and all pretty much
belles. I have not enjoyed a ball so much in years could I have
seen your dear eyes occasionally singling me out from the crowd
I think I should have been quite happy. I danced every figure but
two which is much more than I ought to do but for once I felt
perfectly well and free from headache and as the young gentlemen
were disposed to be very polite it would have been treasonable to
have refused. I shall feel the effects of it tomorrow and as I cannot
stop to night I thought I would finish this letter. I went to
Lazettes this morning she dear girl had had the toothache all night
and the day before yesterday so I went up to help her finish
a dress to wear on this occasion. The Dr
Unknown
attempted
ineffectuallyto extract her tooth but it was easy to night. There were about
ten ladies and as many again gentlemen that I had met before
the rest were all strangers but the party was not so large
as to make dancing unpleasant. Bronson
Birth: 1792 Death: 1857-06-20
came out newagain and talked and treated me as he used to do before I was
married so I danced twice with him. I wonder if that
five thousand dollars that warms his heart to his old acquaintance
Mc Lallen
Birth: 1791-09-07 Death: 1860-11-16
I danced with twice on Clary's
account and twice with Worden
Birth: 1797-03-06 Death: 1856-02-16
onLazettes account — with the others Mr Fosgate
Birth: 1809 Death: 1887-09-11
Duremier
Birth: 1804-06-14 Death: 1872-09-30
Goodwin
Birth: 1807-11-26 Death: 1879-05-13
FifieldUnknown
Van--dervier
Unknown
MyresUnknown
and a gentleman from New York, on thier
own account —George Throop
Birth: 1793-04-12 Death: 1854-02-23
met me in the street on
Saturday and said he was going to Albanytomorrow offered to take any thing I wished to send. I shall send this letter
by him if he goes if not by mail tomorrow. Good night dear one. Your own
Frances
My love to Tracy's
Birth: 1800
Death: 1876
Birth: 1793-06-17
Death: 1859-09-12
Birth: 1788 Death: 1863-06-22
— William H. Seward
Albany
h
Frances A Seward
30 December 1832
Albany
h
Hand Shift
Birth: 1801-05-16 Death: 1872-10-10William Seward
30 December 1832