Letter from Frances Miller Seward to William Henry Seward, August 3, 1838
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Letter from Frances Miller Seward to William Henry Seward, August 3, 1838
transcriberTranscriber:spp:keh
student editorTranscriber:spp:sss
Distributor:Seward Family Digital Archive
Institution:University of Rochester
Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections
Date:1838-08-03
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Letter from Frances Miller Seward to William Henry Seward, August 3, 1838
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:
Westfield NY
Place
Name: City: Westfield
County: Chautauqua County
State: NY
Country: US
Place
transcription: keh
revision: ekk 2015-06-15
<>
Page 1
Friday August 3d 1838
My Dearest Henry,
You have hardly yet come to the end
of your journey still I am feeling as if it was time
for me to receive a letter. I had the headache
violently all of the day you left. Ann Eliza Dougherty
Name: Ann Dougherty
Birth: 1793
Death: 1849-04-19
came along and took tea with us. She is one of the
most enthusiastic whigs I am acquainted with. I was
much amused with her account of the method she
took to get voters when you were the candidate for Governor
in 1834. I asked her how it happened that she was so
warm a politician as I never thought of such things
at all until after my marriage. She seemed to
think it was owing to her father having always taken
an active part in the affairs of the nation. Ann Eliza
is much more sociable and agreeable than she
used to be with me. Clara
Name: Clarinda McClallen
Birth: 1794
Death: 1862-09-05
always liked her.
Yesterday I sent for Miss Benedict
Name: Caroline Benedict
Birth: 1814-08-13
Death: 1850-06-21
Miss Beach
Name: Maria Benedict
Birth: 1821
Death: 1888-02-20
and
six or seven other young ladies with as many gentlemen
they all came late and seemed inclined to make a
regular party of it very contrary to my design.
Frank Hamilton
Name: Frank Hamilton
Birth: 1813-09-10
Death: 1886-08-11
said he was informed that
the
invitations were very general - he hesitated about
coming on that account but happened to meet
Mrs Yates
Name: Margaret Yates
Birth: 1814
Death: 1882
who set him right. I told him
he could not desire less to be in a large party
than I did. I believe the evening passed away
Page 2
agreeably to all - for my own part I took some ether
to allay a violent headache which somewhat
exhilerated my spirits beside curing my head. I
was just felicitating myself on having at last
obtained so desirable an object when all very
fine projects were put to flight by a consulation
with Dr Hamilton
Name: Frank Hamilton
Birth: 1813-09-10
Death: 1886-08-11
who informed me that ether
not unfrequently produced apoplexy. The little
boys
Name: Frederick Seward
Birth: 1830-07-08
Death: 1915-04-25
Name: Augustus Seward
Birth: 1826-10-01
Death: 1876-09-11
were very much afraid I
had killed myself
that night. I had no apprehensions as the quantity
I took was very small - however I doubt the
expediency of resorting again to so dangerous a
remedy - the effect of the ether lasted until
about eleven oclock by that time the company
had all dispersed and I retired to bed - then
came on my headache with renewed violence.
I obtained but little sleep that night. Pa
Name: Elijah Miller
Birth: 1772-04-11
Death: 1851-11-13
sat
in the room until the company departed and
seemed to enjoy himself - he had just returned from
Geneva
Name: City: Geneva
County: Ontario, Seneca
State: NY
Country: US
where he went to day after you left.
Mc Clallen
Name: Hugh McClallen
Birth: 1791
Death: 1860-11-16
came back and took his usual
place
at the table while Pa was gone - continues here
yet - he became very sick of boarding at the
American
Name: American Hotel City: Auburn
County: Cayuga
State: NY
Country: US
and concluded that he could not
stay
there until October when they intend to take
your house if Cobb
Name: Ebenezer Cobb
Birth: 1798-09-09
Death: 1872-12-17
leaves it. I commenced this
letter Friday. Mrs Dean
afternoon and yesterday I had a return of headache
which prevented my finishing it - it is now
Sunday afternoon. I have been to Church with
the boys and Mrs Miller
warm - we had the communion service. I came
home very tired and went to bed where I have
been until this time.
Page 3
The following letter came to you this morning
Wm H. Seward Esq
My dear Sir
You are requested to
attend a meeting of the Committee, — "appointed
to confer with the Bishop, and designate the boundary
line between the two Dioceses into which it is
proposed to divide this" — in the vestry room
of Trinity Church Utica
Name: City: Utica
County: Oneida County
State: NY
Country: US
, on
Tuesday the 21st day
of August at ten oclock in the forenoon.
P.A. Proal
Name: Pierre Proal
Birth: 1796-09-24
Death: 1857-09-15
Acting Chairman.
Rectory: Utica 4th Aug - 1838 -
I have no letter from Lazette
Name: Lazette Worden
Birth: 1803-11-01
Death: 1875-10-03
since you
left.
Clara has gone to Church this evening - she is [ not ]
Reason: wax-seal
at all well. I am sorry Goodwin
Name: Edwin Goodwin
Birth: 1800-10
Death: 1845-09-13
has [
made
]
Reason: wax-seal
Weed
Name: Thurlow Weed
Birth: 1797-11-15
Death: 1882-11-22
look so cross - every one speaks of
[
Weeds
]
Reason: wax-seal
stern expression of the picture. My love
to Marcia
Name:
Birth:
Death:
Jennings
Name: Benjamin Seward
Birth: 1793-08-23
Death: 1841-02-24
and family. I shall
look for a letter tomorrow. I had nearly
forgotten to ask your advice about a new project
of mine. Since I can go no further in Latin
without instruction I have thought of sending
for Roberts
or twice a week as my eyes will admit.
I have always been desirous of learning the language and
would like to be able to assist the boys - perhaps
the leisure and inclination may not again occur
tell ^me^ just what you think best. Our dining
room presents the most fantastick appearance
imaginable - the closits and doors are decorated with
Page 4
all manner of strange figures according to the tastes of painter.
I think he must have come from the Mohawk region
the devises being purely Dutch - it bears not the most
distant resemblance to any wood that grows. I am
astonished that Munroe
do nothing with the man he was stupid or obstinate
or both. I think of sending for Munroe in the morning
to see if he can devise any remedy but as dear Grand- ma
Name: Paulina Miller
Birth: 1751
Death: 1835-10-03
used to say they will not pay much
attention to
women in these affairs. your own Frances.
William H. Seward
Westfield
Chautauque County
AUBURN N.Y. Aug 6
Type: postmark
Name: William Seward
Birth: 1801-05-16
Death: 1872-10-10
Frances A. Seward
August 3d. 1838.
Friday August 3d 1838
My Dearest Henry,
You have hardly yet come to the end
of your journey still I am feeling as if it was time
for me to receive a letter. I had the headache
violently all of the day you left. Ann Eliza Dougherty
Person
came along and took tea with us. She is one of the
most enthusiastic whigs I am acquainted with. I was
much amused with her account of the method she
took to get voters when you were the candidate for Governor
in 1834. I asked her how it happened that she was so
warm a politician as I never thought of such things
at all until after my marriage. She seemed to
think it was owing to her father having always taken
an active part in the affairs of the nation. Ann Eliza
is much more sociable and agreeable than she
used to be with me. Clara
Person
Yesterday I sent for Miss Benedict
Person
Person
six or seven other young ladies with as many gentlemen
they all came late and seemed inclined to make a
regular party of it very contrary to my design.
Frank Hamilton
Person
invitations were very general - he hesitated about
coming on that account but happened to meet
Mrs Yates
Person
he could not desire less to be in a large party
than I did. I believe the evening passed away
agreeably to all - for my own part I took some ether
to allay a violent headache which somewhat
exhilerated my spirits beside curing my head. I
was just felicitating myself on having at last
obtained so desirable an object when all very
fine projects were put to flight by a consulation
with Dr Hamilton
Person
not unfrequently produced apoplexy. The little
boys
People
that night. I had no apprehensions as the quantity
I took was very small - however I doubt the
expediency of resorting again to so dangerous a
remedy - the effect of the ether lasted until
about eleven oclock by that time the company
had all dispersed and I retired to bed - then
came on my headache with renewed violence.
I obtained but little sleep that night. Pa
Person
in the room until the company departed and
seemed to enjoy himself - he had just returned from
Geneva
Place
Mc Clallen
Person
at the table while Pa was gone - continues here
yet - he became very sick of boarding at the
American
Place
there until October when they intend to take
your house if Cobb
Person
letter Friday. Mrs Dean
Unknown
came in and spent theafternoon and yesterday I had a return of headache
which prevented my finishing it - it is now
Sunday afternoon. I have been to Church with
the boys and Mrs Miller
Unknown
. The day is
verywarm - we had the communion service. I came
home very tired and went to bed where I have
been until this time.
The following letter came to you this morning
Wm H. Seward Esq
My dear Sir
You are requested to
attend a meeting of the Committee, — "appointed
to confer with the Bishop, and designate the boundary
line between the two Dioceses into which it is
proposed to divide this" — in the vestry room
of Trinity Church Utica
Place
of August at ten oclock in the forenoon.
P.A. Proal
Person
Acting Chairman.
Rectory: Utica 4th Aug - 1838 -
I have no letter from Lazette
Person
Clara has gone to Church this evening - she is [ not ]
Supplied
at all well. I am sorry Goodwin
Person
Supplied
Weed
Person
Supplied
stern expression of the picture. My love
to Marcia
Person
Person
look for a letter tomorrow. I had nearly
forgotten to ask your advice about a new project
of mine. Since I can go no further in Latin
without instruction I have thought of sending
for Roberts
Unknown
to give me a lesson in
French onceor twice a week as my eyes will admit.
I have always been desirous of learning the language and
would like to be able to assist the boys - perhaps
the leisure and inclination may not again occur
tell ^me^ just what you think best. Our dining
room presents the most fantastick appearance
imaginable - the closits and doors are decorated with
all manner of strange figures according to the tastes of painter.
I think he must have come from the Mohawk region
the devises being purely Dutch - it bears not the most
distant resemblance to any wood that grows. I am
astonished that Munroe
Unknown
has not attended to it. I coulddo nothing with the man he was stupid or obstinate
or both. I think of sending for Munroe in the morning
to see if he can devise any remedy but as dear Grand- ma
Person
women in these affairs. your own Frances.
William H. Seward
Westfield
Chautauque County
AUBURN N.Y. Aug 6
Stamp
Person
August 3d. 1838.
date:
Friday, August 3, 1838
receiver:
sender:
year: