Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, November 11, 1839
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Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, November 11,
1839
transcriber
Transcriber:spp:srr
student editorTranscriber:spp:cnk
Distributor:Seward Family Digital Archive
Institution:University of Rochester
Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections
Date:1839-11-11
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Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, November 11, 1839
action: sent
sender: Frances Seward
Birth: 1805-09-24
Death: 1865-06-21
location: Albany, NY
receiver: Lazette Worden
Birth: 1803-11-01
Death: 1875-10-03
location: Canandaigua, NY
transcription: srr
revision: crb 2017-03-23
<>
Page
1
Wednesday Nov 11th 1839
My dear Sister,
Wednesday has come round again and
nearly departed without my commencing a letter – it
is evening – I am trying to write by candle light but
there is a wonderfully unpleasant sensation produced
by the glimmering of the candle upon the paper.
It is something like the bewildered state of my mind. I
hope you will not think strange if I write the same thing
to you to or three times for I find it impossible to
remember what I have once written, or when I am sensible
of writing the same thing twice to determine whether
it was written to you, Clara
been talked of here during the past week but the result of
the election – I think the excitement actually made
Blatchford
never saw any one enter into an affair with the
heart and soul more entirely engrossed
dear little Freddy
result of the election – I believe it is finally settled that
the Whigs have the majority in both houses which is
rather more than they anticipated after the news from
New York — I Thursday evening — I had written so far
last evening when your letter was brought me – since
that time I have been too busy to write a word and this
evening my eyes do not promise much – my Franklin stove did
not heat the room sufficient so to day I had it exchanged
Page
2
for a close stove – this close stove which has considerable sheet iron
about it has made me so sick that I have been obliged to go
to bed – the fire is all out now and I feel some better –
Freddy went to school for a few days very very comfortably
but he no sooner discovered his ability to learn than the
teacher commenced giving the most outrageously long lessons
you ever beheld – Fred is ambitious and was unwilling
to leave imperfect lessons he neither allowed himself time
to eat or sleep – his mind was so disturbed and over burdened
that his physical strength gave way – I have kept him at
home the last two days – he complains much of his head –
night before last after watching the struggle in his mind the
whole evening with no small degree of anxiety I went to bed
at ten o'clock and left him still pouring over his latin. I
could not persuade
in the night Frank Johnson
in the night never fails to make me melancholy
it stuck a more tender chord than usual I had been up
to look at my little boy – his head was thrown back his
mouth partly open, his eyes sunken – cheek flushed every
think about gave evidence of so strong excitement that I
shuddered for the consequence of this close application to his
books – a plaintive air air from the band destroyed the
little philosophy I had left I wept an hour like a child —
Henry found my crying when he came to bed and promised to remonstrate
with the teacher for overtasking our dear boy – since then he has not
been to school but I hope will be able to commence again next
week – We have in our family at present a young German
artist
at the request of some of Henry’s friends to make a bust
Page
3
will remain here until it is competed – he is young and an enthusiast
but so extremely diffident
Fred likes him amazingly and thinks he would like to be a sculptor
I hope you have no objection to Blatchford’s reading your letters that
is when I think proper to show them for he seems much disappoin-
ted when I do not give them to him that I am unwilling to withhold
them – he is a singular mortal – has a wonderful degree of penetration
with his other abilities — I sometimes wish he were not here here he seems
to be always reading ones thoughts so – but then perhaps it would be
better not to have thoughts that one would wish to conceal and I often
feel provoked with myself for dreading the antics of a boy.
Fred says “Ma Mr Frankestein is not at all like Mr Blatchford, is he —”
and yet the little fellow I believe loves them both – I hear from
home frequently by persons from Auburn – John Richardson
here yesterday morning before breakfast – he was in fine
spirits about the election, on his way to New Burgh or
New York – had some ladies in charge he said but I had
no time to ascertain who they were – We have laughed heartily
over Mrs Wood’s notes from “eminent persons” — Harriet Weed
has been here but once in four weeks – it is not all right at home
– Mrs Weed has been sick or — I have been there but once – Mrs
Horner
gone to New York – I say nothing about the numerous visitors
I have they do not interest you or me either – Nicholas
along slowly – I think will recover if we can keep him from eating
too much — Peter
purpose better than any one else would — Jenny
am I to do for a pastry cook! John Top
is an excellent sensible industrious man – I shall be sorry to part with
him. Harriet
she will so soon
Page
4
Mrs De Witt
pleased – he says he is nearly as large as Willie
but once since I came here – they have a very snug house new and clean
they all made many enquiries about you – William Boardman
here the other day– I enquired why none of them came to see me
he replied they were “expecting an accession to their family –” This
explains why I have not been urged to visit them as much as
formerly– Mrs Corning
in Troy that Columbus’
with some young man
it very probable— When I enquired of William about her he said
he believed she had gone to the South with some persons whose
names I do not recollect. Mrs Willard
I can hear about her at present — I have been no where except to Mrs
Horner’s – none of my bedding is made yet – I am looking for a
seamstress – Ms
her employed. Miss
[right Margin] deplorable looking calico
not present who to imploy next in that line — Henry goes to N. York next week
all send love — Friday morning – your own Sister Frances
Willis Gaylord Clark
is an exceedingly interesting young widower – he is out of health –
Mrs Alvah Worden
Canandaigua
ALBANY
NOV
11
N.Y.
Type: postmark
h
received Nov 17th
Wednesday Nov 11th 1839
My dear Sister,
Wednesday has come round again and
nearly departed without my commencing a letter – it
is evening – I am trying to write by candle light but
there is a wonderfully unpleasant sensation produced
by the glimmering of the candle upon the paper.
It is something like the bewildered state of my mind. I
hope you will not think strange if I write the same thing
to you to or three times for I find it impossible to
remember what I have once written, or when I am sensible
of writing the same thing twice to determine whether
it was written to you, Clara
Birth: 1793-05-01 Death: 1862-09-05
, or Augustus
Birth: 1826-10-01 Death: 1876-09-11
. Nothing
has been talked of here during the past week but the result of
the election – I think the excitement actually made
Blatchford
Birth: 1820-03-09 Death: 1893-07-07
sick as he has been ill a few
days, you never saw any one enter into an affair with the
heart and soul more entirely engrossed
To make thick • To make larger; to increase in bulk • To take the whole • To purchase with a view to sell again • To copy in a large hand; to write a fair, correct copy • To take or assume in undue quantities or degrees •
than he has– dear little Freddy
Birth: 1830-07-08 Death: 1915-04-25
too was very impatient to
know the result of the election – I believe it is finally settled that
the Whigs have the majority in both houses which is
rather more than they anticipated after the news from
New York — I Thursday evening — I had written so far
last evening when your letter was brought me – since
that time I have been too busy to write a word and this
evening my eyes do not promise much – my Franklin stove did
not heat the room sufficient so to day I had it exchanged
for a close stove – this close stove which has considerable sheet iron
about it has made me so sick that I have been obliged to go
to bed – the fire is all out now and I feel some better –
Freddy went to school for a few days very very comfortably
but he no sooner discovered his ability to learn than the
teacher commenced giving the most outrageously long lessons
you ever beheld – Fred is ambitious and was unwilling
to leave imperfect lessons he neither allowed himself time
to eat or sleep – his mind was so disturbed and over burdened
that his physical strength gave way – I have kept him at
home the last two days – he complains much of his head –
night before last after watching the struggle in his mind the
whole evening with no small degree of anxiety I went to bed
at ten o'clock and left him still pouring over his latin. I
could not persuade
To influence by argument, advice, or intreaty • To convince by arguments, or reasons offered •
him to retire with his lesson unlearned
–in the night Frank Johnson
Birth: 1792-06-16 Death: 1844-04-06
came with his band – music in the night never fails to make me melancholy
Depressed in spirits; dejected; gloomy; dismal • Producing great evil and grief; causing dejection; calamitous;
afflictive • Grave looking; somber •
– that night it stuck a more tender chord than usual I had been up
to look at my little boy – his head was thrown back his
mouth partly open, his eyes sunken – cheek flushed every
think about gave evidence of so strong excitement that I
shuddered for the consequence of this close application to his
books – a plaintive air air from the band destroyed the
little philosophy I had left I wept an hour like a child —
Henry found my crying when he came to bed and promised to remonstrate
To exhibit or present strong reasons against an act, measure of any course of proceedings • To suggest urgent reasons in opposition to a measure • To show by a strong representation of reasons •
with the teacher for overtasking our dear boy – since then he has not
been to school but I hope will be able to commence again next
week – We have in our family at present a young German
artist
Birth: 1817-12-19 Death: 1881-04-16
(Mr Frankestien) – he has come
from Philadelphia
at the request of some of Henry’s friends to make a bust
will remain here until it is competed – he is young and an enthusiast
but so extremely diffident
Distrustful; doubting of anothers power, disposition, sincerity, or intention • Distrustful of ones self; not confident • Reserved; modest; timid •
that
we are barely yet acquaintedFred likes him amazingly and thinks he would like to be a sculptor
I hope you have no objection to Blatchford’s reading your letters that
is when I think proper to show them for he seems much disappoin-
ted when I do not give them to him that I am unwilling to withhold
them – he is a singular mortal – has a wonderful degree of penetration
with his other abilities — I sometimes wish he were not here here he seems
to be always reading ones thoughts so – but then perhaps it would be
better not to have thoughts that one would wish to conceal and I often
feel provoked with myself for dreading the antics of a boy.
Fred says “Ma Mr Frankestein is not at all like Mr Blatchford, is he —”
and yet the little fellow I believe loves them both – I hear from
home frequently by persons from Auburn – John Richardson
Birth: 1780-12-19 Death: 1849-04-14
was here yesterday morning before breakfast – he was in fine
spirits about the election, on his way to New Burgh or
New York – had some ladies in charge he said but I had
no time to ascertain who they were – We have laughed heartily
over Mrs Wood’s notes from “eminent persons” — Harriet Weed
Birth: 1819-02-06 Death: 1893-11-01
has been here but once in four weeks – it is not all right at home
– Mrs Weed has been sick or — I have been there but once – Mrs
Horner
Birth: 1780 Death: 1856-12-09
spends one day of
every week with me. James’
Birth: 1804 Death: 1874-06-12
wife
Birth: 1813 Death: 1873-04-29
has
gone to New York – I say nothing about the numerous visitors
I have they do not interest you or me either – Nicholas
Birth: 1801-12-24 Death: 1893-02-15
is getting along slowly – I think will recover if we can keep him from eating
too much — Peter
Certainty: Possible
is very obliging and I have no doubt answers my
purpose better than any one else would — Jenny
Unknown
has disappointed me what am I to do for a pastry cook! John Top
Birth: 1781
who supplies the place of
Nicholas is an excellent sensible industrious man – I shall be sorry to part with
him. Harriet
Birth: 1807 Death: 1888-08-20
talks about
moving next week but I do not think she will so soon
Mrs De Witt
Birth: 1805-12-20 Death: 1842-05-05
has a young son
Birth: 1839-08-09 Death: 1840-05-08
– De
Witt
Birth: 1800-02-06 Death: 1868-02-07
was here yesterday and seemed much pleased – he says he is nearly as large as Willie
Birth: 1839-06-18 Death: 1920-04-29
now –
I have been there but once since I came here – they have a very snug house new and clean
they all made many enquiries about you – William Boardman
Birth: 1794-10-10 Death: 1871-08-27
was here the other day– I enquired why none of them came to see me
he replied they were “expecting an accession to their family –” This
explains why I have not been urged to visit them as much as
formerly– Mrs Corning
Birth: 1794-07-31 Death: 1883-05-26
told me that it was rumored in Troy that Columbus’
Birth: 1806-03-19 Death: 1838-06-16
wife had gone off in an improper manner
with some young man
Unknown
– I hear
nothing more about it but thinkit very probable— When I enquired of William about her he said
he believed she had gone to the South with some persons whose
names I do not recollect. Mrs Willard
Birth: 1787-02-23 Death: 1870-04-15
is in Troy but that is all I can hear about her at present — I have been no where except to Mrs
Horner’s – none of my bedding is made yet – I am looking for a
seamstress – Ms
Unknown
as you
predicted finds no time. Willie keeps her employed. Miss
Unknown
has made me the most [right Margin] deplorable looking calico
Plain white cloth made from cotton, but which receives distinctive names
based on quality and use • Printed cotton cloth •
dress you ever saw and spoiled my bombazine
A twilled fabric of which the warp is silk, and the weft worsted,
formerly black for mourning garments, but now made of various colors •
— I amnot present who to imploy next in that line — Henry goes to N. York next week
all send love — Friday morning – your own Sister Frances
Willis Gaylord Clark
Birth: 1808-10-05 Death: 1841-06-12
was here Tuesday
– he has grown very handsome is an exceedingly interesting young widower – he is out of health –
Mrs Alvah Worden
Canandaigua
ALBANY
NOV
11
N.Y.
Stamp
h
Hand Shift
Birth: 1803-11-01 Death: 1875-10-03