Letter from Frances Miller Seward to William Henry Seward, March 6, 1841
xml:
Letter from Frances Miller Seward to William Henry Seward, March 6, 1841
transcriber
Transcriber:spp:sss
student editorTranscriber:spp:tap
Distributor:Seward Family Digital Archive
Institution:University of Rochester
Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections
Date:1841-03-06
In the context of this project, private URIs with the prefix "psn" point to
person elements in the project's persons.xml authority file.
In the context of this project, private URIs with the prefix "pla" point to
place elements in the project's places.xml authority file.
In the context of this project, private URIs with the prefix "psn" point to
person elements in the project's staff.xml authority file.
In the context of this project, private URIs with the prefix "psn" point to
person elements in the project's bibl.xml authority file.
verical-align: super; font-size: 12px;
text-decoration: underline;
text-decoration: line-through;
color: red;
Letter from Frances Miller Seward to William Henry Seward, March 6, 1841
action: sent
sender: Frances Seward
Birth: 1805-09-24
Death: 1865-06-21
location: Albany, NY
receiver: William Seward
Birth: 1801-05-16
Death: 1872-10-10
location: New York, NY
transcription: sss
revision: tap 2017-07-05
<>
Page
1
Saturday March 6th
My dear Henry,
Our boy
I cannot resist the inclination to give you the assurance
myself – he has had no relapse since you left us
and has to day been sitting up twenty minutes
The Dr
has discontinued his visits – Mrs Simpson
away yesterday to fulfill a previous engagement – I
was sorry to have her leave quite so soon but we
get along toler very well without her – Augustus
can help himself much more than he could four
days ago – Fred
as well as usual to day – Willie
I have just administered a portion of rhubarb to him
hope he will be better tomorrow – Miss Brown
quite ill two days but is better again –
We received to day letters from Florida written
last Wednesday by your Father
Page
2
both speak sorrowfully but submissively of the death
of our lamented brother
in many families which can never be supplied but
God required his services elsewhere and we must
acquiesce in the dispensation difficult as it is
to do so – I feel great sympathy for our Parents
have followed to the grave their first born for his
young wife
dashed to the ground, for his orphan children
who have lost their protector, and I share with you
and his brothers the loss of an affectionate brother –
All must derive consolation from one source – the
“hand of the Highest” can alone apply balm to wounds
like these - – He never fails to answer those
who seek his assistance – I know that our dear
Mother has always been thus supported under heavy
sorrows and have no reason to fear that this support
will be now withdrawn – but these are sore trials –
God grant that she may not sink under them –
I am very sorry our Father is so feeble – may
Page
3
he too be divinely supported – I trust Julia’s
illness is not serious – Pray write me as soon
as you can – I am sorry to learn that
Augustus
City before you came – I suppose this will
make it absolutely necessary for you to go
to New York – Blatchford
all that is new – I hear nothing – have seen
no one but Weed
since you left has commenced his old course
of conduct, but I will not trouble you with
this now – I feel so thankful when I look at
my dear boy and see him recovering from an
illness which had so nearly proved fatal that
I feel unwilling to be disturbed by these things
you have cares and perplexities enough without
them – Augustus hopes ‘Pa’ will not stay away
a great while – he is as meek and patient as
ever – I overheard him persuading his Grandfather
until you came home – All send love, your own
Frances
Page
4
William H. Seward
Care of R.M. Blatchford
New York
Florida Goshen
Orange County
ALBANY N.Y.
MAR 6
Type: postmark
GOSHEN N.Y.
MAR 9
Type: postmark
h
F.A. Seward
March 6. 1841
Saturday March 6th
My dear Henry,
Our boy
Birth: 1826-10-01 Death: 1876-09-11
is so much better to day thatI cannot resist the inclination to give you the assurance
myself – he has had no relapse since you left us
and has to day been sitting up twenty minutes
The Dr
Unknown
still confines him to low diet – Dr McNaughton
Birth: 1796-12-10 Death: 1874-06-11
has discontinued his visits – Mrs Simpson
Unknown
was calledaway yesterday to fulfill a previous engagement – I
was sorry to have her leave quite so soon but we
get along toler very well without her – Augustus
can help himself much more than he could four
days ago – Fred
Birth: 1830-07-08 Death: 1915-04-25
was complaining yesterday but seemsas well as usual to day – Willie
Birth: 1839-06-18 Death: 1920-04-29
has a bad coldI have just administered a portion of rhubarb to him
hope he will be better tomorrow – Miss Brown
Unknown
wasquite ill two days but is better again –
We received to day letters from Florida written
last Wednesday by your Father
Birth: 1768-12-05 Death: 1849-08-24
and Augustus
Birth: 1820-05-18 Death: 1889-05-08
– They both speak sorrowfully but submissively of the death
of our lamented brother
Birth: 1793-08-23 Death: 1841-02-24
– His departure leaves a voidin many families which can never be supplied but
God required his services elsewhere and we must
acquiesce in the dispensation difficult as it is
to do so – I feel great sympathy for our Parents
Birth: 1769-11-27 Death: 1844-12-11
whohave followed to the grave their first born for his
young wife
Birth: 1815 Death: 1879-08-29
whose cup of happiness is so suddenlydashed to the ground, for his orphan children
Birth: 1828-10-07 Death: 1897-07-24
who have lost their protector, and I share with you
and his brothers
Birth: 1799
Death: 1872-04-23
Birth: 1808-08-26
Death: 1888-12-07
All must derive consolation from one source – the
“hand of the Highest” can alone apply balm to wounds
like these - – He never fails to answer those
who seek his assistance – I know that our dear
Mother has always been thus supported under heavy
sorrows and have no reason to fear that this support
will be now withdrawn – but these are sore trials –
God grant that she may not sink under them –
I am very sorry our Father is so feeble – may
he too be divinely supported – I trust Julia’s
Birth: 1811-08-26 Death: 1847-07-24
illness is not serious – Pray write me as soon
as you can – I am sorry to learn that
Augustus
Birth: 1803-07-03 Death: 1871-10-30Certainty: Possible
and his Mother
Birth: 1786-03-22Certainty: Possible
have returned to theCity before you came – I suppose this will
make it absolutely necessary for you to go
to New York – Blatchford
Birth: 1820-03-09 Death: 1893-07-07
I presume writes youall that is new – I hear nothing – have seen
no one but Weed
Birth: 1797-11-15 Death: 1882-11-22
and Worden
Birth: 1797-03-06 Death: 1856-02-16
– The lattersince you left has commenced his old course
of conduct, but I will not trouble you with
this now – I feel so thankful when I look at
my dear boy and see him recovering from an
illness which had so nearly proved fatal that
I feel unwilling to be disturbed by these things
you have cares and perplexities enough without
them – Augustus hopes ‘Pa’ will not stay away
a great while – he is as meek and patient as
ever – I overheard him persuading his Grandfather
Birth: 1772-04-11 Death: 1851-11-13
to remainuntil you came home – All send love, your own
Frances
William H. Seward
Care of R.M. Blatchford
New York
Florida Goshen
Orange County
ALBANY N.Y.
MAR 6
Stamp
GOSHEN N.Y.
MAR 9
Stamp
h
Hand Shift
Birth: 1801-05-16 Death: 1872-10-10William Seward
March 6. 1841