Sunday 23^d Nov
My Dear Henry, I recived your letter from
Utica this morning am glad you did not ride
the whole of that storming night, I thought
of you many times but did not express any
apprehensions, poor Gus felt so bad. When
you departed he cried aloud, his grief yeilded
to a little soothing from his mother and he
spent the remainder of the evening reading aloud
for me in Scotts “Tales of a Grandfather” which
interested us both exceedingly, he has read for
me an hour every evening since, he and Fred
stay with me constantly and I am very grateful
and happy to be once more well enough to instruct
them and enjoy their caresses. I was just beginning
to imagine my serenity of mind proof against
all minor ills when a return of Fredericks
painful disorder has wonderfully disturbed my
philosophy and filled my heart with gloomy
forebodings. He continued free from pain Wednes-
day a and Thursday nights. Friday morning he
complained of his hand a little before getting up
but the pain seemed so trifling that I did not feel
alarmed and hoped it would pass by, but last night
it returned again with more violence. I do not
think he suffered as much as before you left home
but I slept none after 4 oclock. This morning
I told Peter to ask the Dr to come over I have
seen neither Peter or the Dr since, it is now
4 oclock PM. I will not close this letter now
but the weakness of my eyes prevents my writing
any more at present.

Monday afternoon. The Dr came last evening and gave
my little boy another portion of calomel and advised
giving him Iodine in very small quantities every day.
I felt much releived by this visit although I have
not the utmost confidence in the Dr’s judgement.
But it is easy to believe what we hope, he spoke
very encouragingly, says he has no doubt that
with care and the application of proper remidies
this tendency to chronick disease may be removed.
Fred is running about the house to day, no com-
plaining of pain last night. Clary and Augustus
have both violent colds. Hugh spent Saturday
and Sunday evenings here furthermore your deponent
cannot say. I have not heard a word from Lazette
yet. I am afraid she is ill, she said she should
not fail to write the next day if she did not get
killed coming going home. I do not imagine that
so great a calamity has befallen her but am
anxious to hear something. This dismal weather
continues yet. I receive occasionally some demonstration
of kindness from our neighbor Mrs Hills, her billet doux
express her affection in the most flattering terms, I wish
I had a little more faith in her sincerity. She is
a strange mixture of artificial and natural feeling.
I have not seen a mortal except the members of our
own family since you left me. The weather has been
such that it was impossible for ladies to go out,
though I understood that H Wallace came to the
door Saturday to enquire the state of my health.
I go down stairs once every day sometimes twice
these interminable stairs of ours su so completely exhaust
my strength that I have not yet accomplished
any thing else, except debility and some pain from the
stress. I am as well as usual which is not saying
much you know but with which I am satisfied
being determined for the future to be content
with a moderate degree of health. I am very tired
and must close this letter, I hope to hear from you
tomorrow, remember me to all by whom I am not forgotten.
Your own Frances.

William H. Seward
Albany
AUBURN
NOV 25
h Frances A Seward
Nov. 23. 1834.