Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Augustus Henry Seward, December 11, 1850
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Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Augustus Henry Seward, December 11, 1850
transcriber
Transcriber:spp:tap
student editorTranscriber:spp:cnk
Distributor:Seward Family Digital Archive
Institution:University of Rochester
Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections
Date:1850-12-11
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Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Augustus Henry Seward, December 11, 1850
action: sent
sender: Frances Seward
Birth: 1805-09-24
Death: 1865-06-21
location: Washington D.C., US
receiver: Augustus Seward
Birth: 1826-10-01
Death: 1876-09-11
location: UnknownUnknown
transcription: tap
revision: tap 2019-02-05
<>
Page
1
Washington December 11th
My dear Child,
Fred
letter from Genoa dated the 6th of November –
I had been looking for a letter some time when
last week your 2d letter from Berlin came having
been nearly 2 months on the way – Mr Blatch-
ford
The letter you speak of from Frankfort has
not reached us yet but I think it will
one of these days, it probably took some
more circuitous route – Your letters afford
us all, great pleasure – the descriptions are so
graphick that I seem to see the country you
pass through – Fred says he and Aunt Clara
have traced it all on the map – We came
from Auburn the 22d of Nov – Fred accompanied
us to Owego where we took the Erie rail road
and joined your Father
weeks at Goshen – We spent Sunday at
Gosh – drove over to Florida where we found
all the relatives well – We heard that
Page
2
Augustus Seward
see him – Your Father had been at his house
We spent three days in New York – one
night with Mr
very pretty cottage at Hastings – One
night we stayed at Philadelphia for
the purpose of seeing Mrs Meredith
reached here Saturday the 30th – Abbey
and Mary
house, it was quite comfortable and home like
Owing to the unpleasant state of the weather
my arrangement of the house has been considerably
retarded but we are getting in order and
the business of the Winter visiting & receiving
visits, has commenced – I have payed my
respects to the Presidents and
called
upon the wives
of all the Judges
of the
Supreme court etc. etc. Your fathers
health has improved since last Summer he
walks every day to the Capitol & back
which he finds beneficial – Fanny
are with me – I teach Willie 3 hours every
morning – he is studying as well as his
eyes will permit –
Page
3
Aunt Clara and Mr Mc Lallen
our house a few days after I came away
they will remain until we come home in the
Spring, which will be early in March –
Matters in Congress go on very quietly –
I believe the Southern States have concluded not
to dissolve the Union this year though
South Carolina still complains of aggravated
wrongs – Mr Giddings
a speech against the fugitive slave bill
a day or two ago, but it has produced little
excitement – Every thing at the North
seems quiet since the Election – We do not
hear of the capture of any more slaves – If
any are taken, previous experience has taught
the captors the necessity of privacy –
Mr Clay
all expect the nomination for the Presidency
in 52 – perhaps they may all get it – I
suppose there are many others equally assured
but they are the most prominent Whigs – I
ought perhaps to include Gen. Scott
15th – My letter has remained in this unfinished
state three or four days – I have been waiting
Page
4
for an hour when I might be at leisure, but
no such hour seems to come except on Sunday –
Since I commenced this letter your Father
has given a supper, we have attended Mrs
Filmore’s evening reception, and I have done
any amount of visiting – The reception was pretty
full though not so crowded as later in the
season – I saw Gen. Scott & his daughter
among the guests – Tell Clarence that the “pretty
“Ada Smith
enquired about him with a very charming blush
which indicated some interest – She says he prom-
ised to come and see her very often & then did
not come at all – If he has any apology to
make for this faithlessness it is best to send it on –
Tomorrow evening Jenny Lynd
first time in the old Theatre which has been
repaired for the purpose – We are going to hear
her – Caroline
us – Thinking we are to dine at the Presidents.
I have frequent letters from home where all are
well. Aunty
month – Willie and Fanny are very happy
in the posession of a squirel which their
Father bought for them the other day – All
send love – Mr Wilder
for the present – May God preserve you both
your affectionate
Mother
Washington December 11th
My dear Child,
Fred
Birth: 1830-07-08 Death: 1915-04-25
has just forwarded me yourletter from Genoa dated the 6th of November –
I had been looking for a letter some time when
last week your 2d letter from Berlin came having
been nearly 2 months on the way – Mr Blatch-
ford
Birth: 1820-03-09 Death: 1893-07-07
had one from Clarence
Birth: 1828-10-07 Death: 1897-07-24
the same time –The letter you speak of from Frankfort has
not reached us yet but I think it will
one of these days, it probably took some
more circuitous route – Your letters afford
us all, great pleasure – the descriptions are so
graphick that I seem to see the country you
pass through – Fred says he and Aunt Clara
Birth: 1793-05-01 Death: 1862-09-05
have traced it all on the map – We came
from Auburn the 22d of Nov – Fred accompanied
us to Owego where we took the Erie rail road
and joined your Father
Birth: 1801-05-16 Death: 1872-10-10
who had been twoweeks at Goshen – We spent Sunday at
Gosh – drove over to Florida where we found
all the relatives well – We heard that
Augustus Seward
Birth: 1820-05-18 Death: 1889-05-08
was well though I did notsee him – Your Father had been at his house
We spent three days in New York – one
night with Mr
Birth: 1808-02-25 Death: 1886-09-29
& Mrs Bowen
Birth: 1816 Death: 1872-07-15
, at theirvery pretty cottage at Hastings – One
night we stayed at Philadelphia for
the purpose of seeing Mrs Meredith
Birth: 1801-02-20 Death: 1853-06-28
– Wereached here Saturday the 30th – Abbey
Birth: 1822 Death: 1895-09-16
and Mary
Birth: 1819-11-24 Death: 1854-12-18
having preceeded us and opened thehouse, it was quite comfortable and home like
Owing to the unpleasant state of the weather
my arrangement of the house has been considerably
retarded but we are getting in order and
the business of the Winter visiting & receiving
visits, has commenced – I have payed my
respects to the Presidents
Birth: 1800-01-07 Death: 1874-03-08
family
Birth: 1828-04-26
Death: 1889-11-15
Birth: 1832-03-27
Death: 1854-07-26
Birth: 1798-03-13
Death: 1853-03-30
upon the wives
Birth: 1794
Death: 1889-07-23
Birth: 1802
Death: 1882-01-13
Birth: 1783-06-13
Death: 1855-09-29
Birth: 1802
Death: 1872
Birth: 1800-02-11
Death: 1891-02-11
Birth: 1805
Death: 1875-04
Birth: 1807-01-12
Death: 1886-12-13
Birth: 1796-08-25
Death: 1873-06-11
Birth: 1790
Death: 1867-07-05
Birth: 1785-03-11
Death: 1861-04-04
Birth: 1777-03-17
Death: 1864-10-12
Birth: 1786
Death: 1865-05-30
Birth: 1780-05-01
Death: 1852-07-19
Birth: 1784-04-24
Death: 1860-05-31
Birth: 1792-11-10
Death: 1873-12-13
Birth: 1794-03-05
Death: 1870-09-25
Birth: 1789-12-22
Death: 1851-09-04
Supreme court etc. etc. Your fathers
health has improved since last Summer he
walks every day to the Capitol & back
which he finds beneficial – Fanny
Birth: 1844-12-09 Death: 1866-10-29
and
Willie
Birth: 1839-06-18 Death: 1920-04-29
are with me – I teach Willie 3 hours every
morning – he is studying as well as his
eyes will permit –
Aunt Clara and Mr Mc Lallen
Birth: 1791-09-07 Death: 1860-11-16
went up
toour house a few days after I came away
they will remain until we come home in the
Spring, which will be early in March –
Matters in Congress go on very quietly –
I believe the Southern States have concluded not
to dissolve the Union this year though
South Carolina still complains of aggravated
wrongs – Mr Giddings
Birth: 1795-10-06 Death: 1864-05-27
of Pennsylvania
madea speech against the fugitive slave bill
a day or two ago, but it has produced little
excitement – Every thing at the North
seems quiet since the Election – We do not
hear of the capture of any more slaves – If
any are taken, previous experience has taught
the captors the necessity of privacy –
Mr Clay
Birth: 1777-04-12 Death: 1852-06-29
Mr Webster
Birth: 1782-01-18 Death: 1852-10-24
and Mr Filmore all expect the nomination for the Presidency
in 52 – perhaps they may all get it – I
suppose there are many others equally assured
but they are the most prominent Whigs – I
ought perhaps to include Gen. Scott
Birth: 1786-06-13 Death: 1866-05-29
–15th – My letter has remained in this unfinished
state three or four days – I have been waiting
for an hour when I might be at leisure, but
no such hour seems to come except on Sunday –
Since I commenced this letter your Father
has given a supper, we have attended Mrs
Filmore’s evening reception, and I have done
any amount of visiting – The reception was pretty
full though not so crowded as later in the
season – I saw Gen. Scott & his daughter
Unknown
among the guests – Tell Clarence that the “pretty
“Ada Smith
Unknown
” came to see me the other day and enquired about him with a very charming blush
which indicated some interest – She says he prom-
ised to come and see her very often & then did
not come at all – If he has any apology to
make for this faithlessness it is best to send it on –
Tomorrow evening Jenny Lynd
Birth: 1820-10-06 Death: 1887-11-02
is to sing for thefirst time in the old Theatre which has been
repaired for the purpose – We are going to hear
her – Caroline
Birth: 1834-07-25 Death: 1922-02-28
is to come
over and go with us – Thinking we are to dine at the Presidents.
I have frequent letters from home where all are
well. Aunty
Birth: 1803-11-01 Death: 1875-10-03
is coming
down some time nextmonth – Willie and Fanny are very happy
in the posession of a squirel which their
Father bought for them the other day – All
send love – Mr Wilder
Birth: 1822 Death: 1855-04-29
is here
as secretary for the present – May God preserve you both
your affectionate
Mother