Sunday afternoon
My Dear Henry, It is again Sunday and I have not written
any since last Teusday morning[ . ] Wednesday Pa brought in
Tracys letter written from Syracuse as you have seen him
since it is unnecessary to say any thing about it. I am
glad they are both at Albany for your sake – Wednesday
afternoon I went up to Lazette's she was going to have
company in the evening and wished me to assist her.
The Wallaces , Mr and Mrs Morgan Miss Morgan, Mr & Mrs Vre-
denburgh & Muir, Miss Bennett, Mrs Weed, J. Porter, L. Worden, G.
Morgan , Dr. Briggs, Beardsley, F. Hamilton , Lockhart, Clary,
Maria and myself were the guests. We had a very pleasant
party. Peter came up with the wagon for me at our half
past nine. I did not see ^him^ and Worden sent him away and
told him to come again in an hour. The company dispersed
soon after ten all went home but me – no Peter came
the horse was fastened at the gate and by this time had
become very restless. Lazette was tired and Worden sleepy and
I expecting something of a scene at home because the horse
was out so late. We devised a hundred schemes none of which
were altogether practicable. Worden wished to drive me home
but I knew this would occasion a greater xxxxxxxx ebullition
of wrath than any thing else. I would walk home but then
the horse would be left in the street and I should certainly
be censured for this. Worden would go in pursuit of Peter
but no mortal knew in what part of the village he might

be found the only alternative appeared to be to stay until he came
so I waited and waited until I thought it must be nearly one
oclock – all the watches Lazettes, Wordens and mine had run
down – but Peter did come at last. He said he had been
down to the mill and as Mr Worden gave him one hour he
thought he would just take another himself. I was too glad
that he came at all to scold him any. It was not quite 1²
when I got home all the family were in bed but Clary and Maria
so the performance escaped comment. The next party I attend
I am inclined to think I shall walk home unless you are here
to accompany me. Thursday morning your first letter came. I was
happy to hear you were well and had a pleasant journey. I am
sorry Weed continues an invalid so long. Friday The only
two events worthy of notice were, the putting up the fireboard in
the north room which is beautified by nailing on three huge
pieces of unpainted timber to prevent its coming to pieces
and my going out shopping & coming home about as sick as I
usually do. Saturday was employed by Pa and a very handsome
man in nailing up sheet iron fireboards in the south chamber
and front room. [ ou ] will find the house considerably embellished
when you come home if Pa continues as active as he has been.
Your second letter came in the morning which made me view
these improvements with more complacency than I would otherwise
have done. I am glad to find you better reconciled than
I ventured to hope you would be to the termination of this political
campaign. Your plans for the future if &c –– remind me forcibly
of Lord Bolingbroke as he is described by Bulwer always languishing
for ease and quiet even when most eagerly engaged in his an
ambitious pursuits. But I will not quarrel with the inconsistency
so long as you continue to believe there is more happiness in
quiet and retirement – when you being to have doubts on this head I
shall consider you indeed incorrigible.

I am very much grieved to hear so melancholy an account of James
Berdan and Irving. Almost any thing but an Unitarian clergymen
I could have been reconciled to. I cannot forgive Mr. Kent for not
expressing more warm admiration of Berdans letters. Do you know
that I always shrunk from the idea of having them published
for this very reason so few would appreciate them as we do and
I think it would be very painful to hear them criticized by
indifferent persons.
I do not doubt were my health even tolerable that I should be much
more happy with you than at home – but on this subject I can
say nothing decisive. I am still about as when you left me
my sickness not materially increased or diminished. I sometimes
think it is my destiny to always stay at home and be sick but
these are wicked ungrateful thoughts and I banish them as soon
as possible. Should I be able to go at all I would not wish to go
before some [ time ] in January or February. Our folks have set
their hearts so much upon my staying with them or having the
children stay with them that I cannot think of spending the
whole winter there. I will write again on this subject before you
return – – – If you get the cloak (which I beg you not to do
if it will be any inconvenience to you) I wish it to be merino.
Miss McLaren will tell you the most fashionable colour or I shall
be perfectly satisfied with your taste in the selection – to be faced
with silk, not velvet. 11 yds 1 1/2 yd long, ^including the yolk^ . Now dearest I will not
not love you at all if you get this when you cannot afford to
do so merely because I mentioned that I had thought of
sending. I have not seen Lazette since you wrote me and shall
say nothing to her about it. Once more – Grandma has seen this
advertisement in the Journal of Wednesday 14th ("The Rev T.G. Mayer
No 25 Montgomery street will inform persons where they may procure good
faithful German servants")
and is very desirous that I should request you to make enquiries
and get a girl of 12 or 14 years for us if possible. Sarah Lo Lott
leaves in a fortnight and we cannot yet find any one to supply
her place. Do as you think best about it. Now don't forget the
"skien of white worsted at Flints" –the little boys are well your own Frances

[left Margin] Love to the Tracy's. What rooms do they occupy at Congress Hall

x

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AUBURN Nov 19
William H. Seward
Albany
hF.H. Seward
Nov 19 1832