Friday night — 18^th
My Dear Henry, We have just been blown home in a strong south wind from Mrs
Fosgates. Serene had gone again to hear Finney preach. Finney and the excitements
are of course the whole subjects of conversation in these day's. Serene goes because
the Hamiltons torment her unceasingly. we staid until after nine. Serene did
not return. Mrs Lydia Mott came in and we came home. Before going to
Mrs Fosgates we called on Mrs Porter. She was at home all alone and very
agreeable. I liked her because she said she would not go to Albany as Mrs
Throop does and leave her children at home. I discovered that she did not
like Mrs Throop much better than we do. The house looks very pretty and
the brass fixtures appeared to be very much at home. Yesterday after
sending my letter I went up to Lazettes and spent the day, found it much
colder out than I had anticipated. Worden has a cousin there making a
visit from Bloomfield – her name is Bennett– she appears to be a very
pretty intelligent girl – is going to stay two or three weeks. Fred appeared
to enjoy his visit very much and did not take any cold. I came home
immediately after tea and after disposing of Fred Clary and I went over to see
Mrs Hills. Found the room genteelly cool as usual. Mrs Hills had been all day
starting for Seneca Falls where her brother Josiah is sick. She is going to bring
him here if he is able to ride. Horace is with her now and from her account
I should suppose in the last stages of the dispepsia, but every thing is dis-
pepsia with Mrs Hills. Horace is not confined to his bed and she expects to
cure him herself by good nursing. Porter came in before we came away and came
home with us. Eleazer we did not see but Mrs Hills said he was in the nursery
getting the baby to sleep. Augustus appears quite well again to day. Pa and Peter
have been employed in bottleing cider in the youngest bottles I ever beheld.
Saturday night - Clary and Serene have gone this evening to see Lazette. I did not
go with them, it was so cold and dark. Serene says that Finney was very
moderate last night in his preaching. Staid until ten o'clock. Augustus and
Sarah have been to the auction room purchasing play things. Augustus selected a little

trumpet (his taste appears to be very much in favour of military equipments) which
he has been twanging in my ears until I am almost deaf. Fred think is
very nice and considers Augustus a being of superior intelligence.
I am now going to sleep in the firm belief that I shall get a letter in the
morning. Sunday night - I was so disappointed this morning the letter
did not come – not a word since Wednesday. Heretofore I have always had
a letter Saturday or Sunday and to day I hardly knew how to get along
without one. I was so sure that I had carried my last up to Lazette
so that I had not even this to read over. Clary and Serene came home
last night about ten. They had a very merry time. Mr Phelps was
there and played on the piano all the evening. This morning when
I got up I found the ground covered with snow. The sleighs have
been running again all day. I did not go to Church. Wrote a
letter to Cornelia. Clary went to Church this evening, she had
been gone but a short time when Hugh came. I went to the door
and invited him in, he enquired for Clary and staid but a few
minutes when he found she was gone. He says he saw a Mr Lansing
from Albany last Friday who had seen you in the street on Teusday
so I hope you are well. McLallen says Judge Powers is very low
and that he heard to day that it was doubtful if he lived a fortnight.
I was much surprised as he was riding out last week, I had no idea
he was so very ill. He says that Myres told him that he did not see
any company. Finney preached this morning and again this evening.
I think he must preach strangely from all accounts. Doubleday says he
preaches his doctrine exactly and Ezekiel Williams is so much pleased
with him that he has invited him to abide with him while he remains
in the village. I see no prospect of his going immediately. I think
the terms made use of would be almost as unintelligible to one who had
not become accustomed to them as as the "flash" talk in Pelham
and Paul Clifford

some are "agonizing," some "indulge a hope," and some "have obtained a
hope," and some "have used up their conviction." These last are considered
rather a hopeless case. The Baptist’s have meetings constantly, there 15
immersed to day. The methodist’s also participate in the excitement.
Sarah said yesterday when she and Augustus were out a little girl whom
she met asked her if she was going to prayer meeting. Spencer and
Steele go to these meetings of the little girls and urge them to
pray. The other evening when we were in to see Mrs Hills I asked her
where she sent Thomas to school. She said he was confined at home now
with the whooping cough but had been to Charlotte Rays school until
he became quite unmanageable at home. He asked his ma what made Miss
Ray threaten so much to punish the children and then never do it. Porter came
in while we were talking about it and said Charles went now to Miss Hewit
in the school house back of Mr Fosgates. Miss Hewit has good management
enough but Charles [ likes ] to talk very naughty of the larger boys. Mrs
Hills who an scheme on foot wished me to join her and send Augustus
to a Mr Balen from Weedsport who she has a very high opinion of and thinks
by paying him enough she can induce him to take no more than ten scholars.
Porter laughed and said by paying him his own price he presumed she could
engage him not to take more than five. It will probably terminate like the rest
of her schemes. Clary said when we came home that she should not be willing
to have Augustus very intimate with Thomas Hills, and I said I did not wish
to send him to a mans school at present. Thus ended the chapter on schools,
without my getting any light on the subject. Monday morning - The letter came this
morning and I am glad I did not seal this last night. Also Gus' letter and beautiful
book with which he is perfectly wild with delight and is now engaged
in spelling out all the small words of his acquaintance. Clary heard
Frank Cummings preach at our Church last night. I think he had better
remain at home until he has his trial – he is unaccountably impudent.
I must answer your letter in my next. I suppose you will get home
from Orange County by the time this gets to Albany. Your own Frances.

Auburn N-Y March 21
William H. Seward
Albany
hF. A. Seward
21 March 1831