Letter from Frances Miller Seward to William Henry Seward, August 12, 1838
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Letter from Frances Miller Seward to William Henry Seward, August 12, 1838
transcriberTranscriber:spp:keh
student editorTranscriber:spp:sss
Distributor:Seward Family Digital Archive
Institution:University of Rochester
Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections
Date:1838-08-12
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Letter from Frances Miller Seward to William Henry Seward, August 12, 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
Sunday Aug. 12th -
My dearest Henry,
I received your letter (the first from
Westfield) Friday morning and should have written
immediately had I not been prevented by headache.
I went Teusday afternoon to Mr Hopkins
Name: Josiah Hopkins
Birth: 1786-04-25
Death: 1862-06-27
examin-
ation - there were very few persons there. Mr Lathrop
Name: Leonard Lathrop
Birth: 1796
Death: 1857-08-20
seemed to be the most important personage. I should
think him a pretty good scholar though rather a
dull man - his examination of the boys was
much less interesting than that of Mr Lucas
Name: William Lucas
Birth: 1799
Death: 1839-08-25
at
Mr Myres
structed - are much less advanced in their studies
than at Mr Myres school - this I should consider
no objection could I perceive that any more
attention was paid to the elementary branches.
I was sorry that I did not feel well enough to
go Wednesday morning. I lost Augustus
Name: Augustus Seward
Birth: 1826-10-01
Death: 1876-09-11
exam-
ination which he says I could not have heard
had I been there for he could not speak
loud though he tried very hard - he read
and parsed a sentence in Caesar - there
was a room full of spectators Wednesday.
I will indeavour to see Mr Hopkins when
he returns and talk with him about writing
and spelling. Gus says they spell once a week
without study and write only when they
choose which is pretty generally equivalent
to not writing at all.
Page 2
You must have had a pleasant excursion to Chautau- que
Name: City:
County:
State:
Country:
- pleasant for you who enjoy hustle and
much company and many strange faces
you do enjoy it dearest or you would not always
be in the midst of it - it is distressing to me
when I am ill, and wearisome when I am well.
I am the former this morning or I believe I should
not have written that last sentence my head
is getting its old habits again. Freddy
Name: Frederick Seward
Birth: 1830-07-08
Death: 1915-04-25
thinks
he would have enjoyed the trip in the new steam
boat exceedingly. Poor John
his letter - his is a melancholy fate. I do not know
how he submits to the separation from his little
boy. Did you see Mrs Tracy
Name: Harriett Tracy
Birth: 1800-03-09
Death: 1876-03
at Buffalo
Name: City: Buffalo
County:
State: NY
Country: US
. I suppose
not as you do not mention it. I should think
she would be very happy in the prospect of a
permanent home. Mr
Name: John Porter
Birth: 1790-10-24
Death: 1874-02-03
& Mrs
Porter
Name: Abigail Porter
Birth: 1800-04-12
Death: 1886-03-29
of Albany
Name: City: Albany
County:
State: NY
Country: US
are at Mrs Weeds
Name: Catherine Weed
Birth: 1797
Death: 1858-07-03
. I called last evening -
they
have given up housekeeping for the present. Mr Porter
is going to Buffalo next week - he regretted that
your were not at home seemed to think he might
see you when he went west which does not seem
at all probable to me. Mr Addison Dougherty
Name: Addison Dougherty
Birth:
Death:
is here again - very sorry to miss you again - he
has come to accompany Ann Eliza
Name: Ann Dougherty
Birth: 1793
Death: 1849-04-19
home who
has
recently received the afflicting intelligence of the
death of her only brother James
Name: James Nicholson
Birth: 1808
Death: 1838-08-30
- he was
a clergyman - living in Maryland
Name: Chesapeake Bay City:
County:
State: VA
Country: US
- married
a sister of Dougherty
I can fancy you sitting in the office at Chautau-
que, or walking about the quick little town,
not continually tormented with idle reports
as you were here. Peter
Name: Peter Crosby
Birth:
Death:
and Dr
Humphreys
Name: Erastus Humphreys
Birth: 1785-05-17
Death: 1848-03-09
appear to have a deal of communication. I believe
Page 3
they have quarreled now about a note. The Dr
has been all along in the habit of questioning
Peter about the family and among other things has en
-quired what Kit Morgan
Name: Christopher Morgan
Birth: 1808-06-04
Death: 1877-04-02
came here for so
frequently.
Tells Peter that you are altogether too young for a can-
didate for Governor and that he does not approve of
your being nominated. I supose we shall hear no more
of this now there is a breach. The Dr's conduct it
is ungentlemanly and contemptible but by no means
new - he disgusted me by questioning servants
about the affairs of the family long before I
was so cruelly convinced of his utter destitution
of feeling and principle. Worden
Name: Alvah Worden
Birth: 1797-03-06
Death: 1856-02-16
passed through
Friday morning on his way to New York
Name: City: New York
County:
State: NY
Country: US
- he
left a note for me saying he had been sent for by
Sibley
Name: Mark Sibley
Birth: 1796-11-06
Death: 1852-09-08
who had had a relapse and was
supposed
to be in a very dangerous situation. Worden hardly
expected to find him alive. Lazette
Name: Lazette Worden
Birth: 1803-11-01
Death: 1875-10-03
Frances
Name: Frances Chesebro
Birth: 1826-12-12
Death: 1909-08-21
an[
d
]
Reason:
had just set out for Avon
Name: City: Avon
County: Livingston
State: NY
Country: US
were as far as Bloomfield
Name: City: Bloomfield
County: Ontario
State: NY
Country: US
on their way when they were overtaken by a messenger
with the letter containing the intelligence. They all
immediately returned and Worden set off for N.Y.
I am all alone in the house saving and excepting
the company of Miss Chitterbob
Name: Chitterbob Pet
Birth:
Death:
- the little boys have
gone to Church with Clara
Name: Clarinda McClallen
Birth: 1794
Death: 1862-09-05
and Mc Clallen
Name: Hugh McClallen
Birth: 1791
Death: 1860-11-16
. I am kept
at home by headache. Last night the young Magician
performed for the last time at the Museum - the little boys
were ^so^ disappointed that I could not consent to their going
that I was under the necessity of having an exhibition
of Phosphorus in my room - so we had volcanoes, magic
candles, burning islands &c in profusion. Our Helen
keeps sending for her to come to Illinois
Name: Illinois City:
County:
State: IL
Country: US
where she can get 3$
a week - she does not seem much disposed to go and being
altogether the best girl we have had for a long time I do not
feel much disposed to let her. – – – Adieu dearest your own
Frances —
[left Margin] My love to all our friends. Clara is in very poor health
I am sorry she did not go with you but your visit
was so hurried that I did not think of it
until you were gone.
Page 4
William H. Seward
Westfield
Chautauque County
AUBURN N.Y. AUG 12
Type: postmark
Name: William Seward
Birth: 1801-05-16
Death: 1872-10-10
Frances A. Seward
August 12, 1838.
[bottom Margin]
Name: Frances Seward
Birth: 1805-09-24
Death: 1865-06-21
What do you think is the matter with our dahlias they have
ceased growing and have no appearance of flower. I blli believe
they want you to look at them ever [ y ]
Reason:
day.
Sunday Aug. 12th -
My dearest Henry,
I received your letter (the first from
Westfield) Friday morning and should have written
immediately had I not been prevented by headache.
I went Teusday afternoon to Mr Hopkins
Person
ation - there were very few persons there. Mr Lathrop
Person
seemed to be the most important personage. I should
think him a pretty good scholar though rather a
dull man - his examination of the boys was
much less interesting than that of Mr Lucas
Person
Mr Myres
Unknown
school - the boys seem to be well
in-structed - are much less advanced in their studies
than at Mr Myres school - this I should consider
no objection could I perceive that any more
attention was paid to the elementary branches.
I was sorry that I did not feel well enough to
go Wednesday morning. I lost Augustus
Person
ination which he says I could not have heard
had I been there for he could not speak
loud though he tried very hard - he read
and parsed a sentence in Caesar - there
was a room full of spectators Wednesday.
I will indeavour to see Mr Hopkins when
he returns and talk with him about writing
and spelling. Gus says they spell once a week
without study and write only when they
choose which is pretty generally equivalent
to not writing at all.
You must have had a pleasant excursion to Chautau- que
Place
much company and many strange faces
you do enjoy it dearest or you would not always
be in the midst of it - it is distressing to me
when I am ill, and wearisome when I am well.
I am the former this morning or I believe I should
not have written that last sentence my head
is getting its old habits again. Freddy
Person
he would have enjoyed the trip in the new steam
boat exceedingly. Poor John
Unknown
, I
would like to seehis letter - his is a melancholy fate. I do not know
how he submits to the separation from his little
boy. Did you see Mrs Tracy
Person
Place
not as you do not mention it. I should think
she would be very happy in the prospect of a
permanent home. Mr
Person
Person
Place
are at Mrs Weeds
Person
have given up housekeeping for the present. Mr Porter
is going to Buffalo next week - he regretted that
your were not at home seemed to think he might
see you when he went west which does not seem
at all probable to me. Mr Addison Dougherty
Person
is here again - very sorry to miss you again - he
has come to accompany Ann Eliza
Person
recently received the afflicting intelligence of the
death of her only brother James
Person
a clergyman - living in Maryland
Place
a sister of Dougherty
Unknown
's
.I can fancy you sitting in the office at Chautau-
que, or walking about the quick little town,
not continually tormented with idle reports
as you were here. Peter
Person
Person
appear to have a deal of communication. I believe
they have quarreled now about a note. The Dr
has been all along in the habit of questioning
Peter about the family and among other things has en
-quired what Kit Morgan
Person
Tells Peter that you are altogether too young for a can-
didate for Governor and that he does not approve of
your being nominated. I supose we shall hear no more
of this now there is a breach. The Dr's conduct it
is ungentlemanly and contemptible but by no means
new - he disgusted me by questioning servants
about the affairs of the family long before I
was so cruelly convinced of his utter destitution
of feeling and principle. Worden
Person
Friday morning on his way to New York
Place
left a note for me saying he had been sent for by
Sibley
Person
to be in a very dangerous situation. Worden hardly
expected to find him alive. Lazette
Person
Person
Supplied
had just set out for Avon
Place
Place
on their way when they were overtaken by a messenger
with the letter containing the intelligence. They all
immediately returned and Worden set off for N.Y.
I am all alone in the house saving and excepting
the company of Miss Chitterbob
Person
gone to Church with Clara
Person
Person
at home by headache. Last night the young Magician
performed for the last time at the Museum - the little boys
were ^so^ disappointed that I could not consent to their going
that I was under the necessity of having an exhibition
of Phosphorus in my room - so we had volcanoes, magic
candles, burning islands &c in profusion. Our Helen
Unknown
's
uncleUnknown
keeps sending for her to come to Illinois
Place
a week - she does not seem much disposed to go and being
altogether the best girl we have had for a long time I do not
feel much disposed to let her. – – – Adieu dearest your own
Frances —
[left Margin] My love to all our friends. Clara is in very poor health
I am sorry she did not go with you but your visit
was so hurried that I did not think of it
until you were gone.
William H. Seward
Westfield
Chautauque County
AUBURN N.Y. AUG 12
Stamp
Person
August 12, 1838.
[bottom Margin]
Person
ceased growing and have no appearance of flower. I blli believe
they want you to look at them ever [ y ]
Supplied
date:
Sunday, August 12, 1838
receiver:
sender:
year: