Letter from William Henry Seward to Frances Miller Seward, March 15, 1849
xml:
Letter from William Henry Seward to Frances Miller Seward, March 15,
1849
transcriber
Transcriber:spp:ekk
student editorTranscriber:spp:keh
Distributor:Seward Family Digital Archive
Institution:University of Rochester
Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections
Date:1849-03-15
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Letter from William Henry Seward to Frances Miller Seward, March 15, 1849
action: sent
sender: William Seward
Birth: 1801-05-16
Death: 1872-10-10
location: Washington D.C., US
receiver: Frances Seward
Birth: 1805-09-24
Death: 1865-06-21
location: Auburn, NY
transcription: ekk
revision: crb 2016-05-27
<>
Page
1
Washington March 15. 1849
My Dear Frances
Your letter of Monday
has just been received, and it
has cheered and revived my spirits, for al-
though you do not say that you are
restoring to health, you speak of
visits to friends, of the hotbed, of
grape vines and chrisanthemums. and
you do not dwell on these things when
you are depressed by disease.
There is little of variety in
my daily journal. The crowd around
me fall off, but my cares about
the distribution of patronage continue
and my correspondence accumulates con-
stantly.
I engaged yesterday in debate
Page
2
(in open session) for the first time,
but only to speak a few plain
words on an important question.
This is the end of all that I propose
to say in debate during this
session of the Senate. My object
has been to get into
only and that in the most modest
and unobtrusive manner. The
vices of debate most prevalent
here as everywhere else is the
prolixity and frequency of speaking.
Mr Webster
frequent speaking for he always speaks
well. Mr Calhoun
more than once, and that always on
important occasions.
Page
3
Mr. Benton
Mr Hale
too impulsively Mr Douglass
too much. Mr Butler
and Mr Berrien
It would be no easy thing
to avoid the faults of all these
practiced debators who all
are able men. Foote
well meaning harmless noisy
man, whom nobody cares for.
Schoolcraft
from Baltimore having parted there
with Mr Weed
in good spirits gratified with
all that had been thus far done.
Page
4
The Vice President
on Saturday. It would have been
better for him had he been
giving dinners all the week.
But he has seen fit to occupy
himself otherwise. From morning
till night, midnight he has
been engaged constantly (with only
interruptions of Senate hours) in finding
up offices for his body guards.
Governor Young
night to hang over the carcass
which attracts so many hungry
ravens.
I think Mother ought not to
Page
5
forget to send my daughters
letters to her Father. Her
Father wishes very much to see
her letters, and he hopes
also that his little boy
has recovered from his accident
and will be able to write
to his Father also.
I send you the National
Intelligencer containing the Debate
on General Shields
We shall adjourn on Monday
I think, but I shall not be able
to leave the city immediately.
Pray continue your letters.
Your own Henry
Page
6
Washington March 15. 1849
My Dear Frances
Your letter of Monday
has just been received, and it
has cheered and revived my spirits, for al-
though you do not say that you are
restoring to health, you speak of
visits to friends, of the hotbed, of
grape vines and chrisanthemums. and
you do not dwell on these things when
you are depressed by disease.
There is little of variety in
my daily journal. The crowd around
me fall off, but my cares about
the distribution of patronage continue
and my correspondence accumulates con-
stantly.
I engaged yesterday in debate
(in open session) for the first time,
but only to speak a few plain
words on an important question.
This is the end of all that I propose
to say in debate during this
session of the Senate. My object
has been to get into
only and that in the most modest
and unobtrusive manner. The
vices of debate most prevalent
here as everywhere else is the
prolixity and frequency of speaking.
Mr Webster
Birth: 1782-01-18 Death: 1852-10-24
wears even withfrequent speaking for he always speaks
well. Mr Calhoun
Birth: 1782-03-18 Death: 1850-03-31
speaks seldommore than once, and that always on
important occasions.
Mr. Benton
Birth: 1782-03-14 Death: 1858-04-10
does the same.Mr Hale
Birth: 1806-03-31 Death: 1873-11-19
speaks too often &too impulsively Mr Douglass
Birth: 1813-04-23 Death: 1861-06-03
quitetoo much. Mr Butler
Birth: 1796-11-18 Death: 1857-05-25
too often,and Mr Berrien
Birth: 1781-08-23 Death: 1856-01-01
too long.It would be no easy thing
to avoid the faults of all these
practiced debators who all
are able men. Foote
Birth: 1804-02-28 Death: 1880-05-20
is a
clearwell meaning harmless noisy
man, whom nobody cares for.
Schoolcraft
Birth: 1804-09-22 Death: 1860-06-07
returned this morningfrom Baltimore having parted there
with Mr Weed
Birth: 1797-11-15 Death: 1882-11-22
who left himin good spirits gratified with
all that had been thus far done.
The Vice President
Birth: 1800-01-07 Death: 1874-03-08
gives a dinneron Saturday. It would have been
better for him had he been
giving dinners all the week.
But he has seen fit to occupy
himself otherwise. From morning
till night, midnight he has
been engaged constantly (with only
interruptions of Senate hours) in finding
up offices for his body guards.
Governor Young
Birth: 1802-06-12 Death: 1852-04-23
returned lastnight to hang over the carcass
which attracts so many hungry
ravens.
I think Mother ought not to
forget to send my daughters
Birth: 1844-12-09 Death: 1866-10-29
letters to her Father. Her
Father wishes very much to see
her letters, and he hopes
also that his little boy
Birth: 1839-06-18 Death: 1920-04-29
has recovered from his accident
and will be able to write
to his Father also.
I send you the National
Intelligencer containing the Debate
on General Shields
Birth: 1810-05-10 Death: 1879-06-01
case.We shall adjourn on Monday
I think, but I shall not be able
to leave the city immediately.
Pray continue your letters.
Your own Henry