Letter from William Henry Seward to Frances Miller Seward, December 19, 1834
xml:
Letter from William Henry Seward to Frances Miller Seward, December 19, 1834
transcriber
Transcriber:spp:gew
student editorTranscriber:spp:sss
Distributor:Seward Family Papers Project
Institution:University of Rochester
Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections
Date:1834-12-19
In the context of this project, private URIs with the prefix "psn" point to
person elements in the project's persons.xml authority file.
In the context of this project, private URIs with the prefix "pla" point to
place elements in the project's places.xml authority file.
In the context of this project, private URIs with the prefix "psn" point to
person elements in the project's staff.xml authority file.
In the context of this project, private URIs with the prefix "psn" point to
person elements in the project's bibl.xml authority file.
verical-align: super; font-size: 12px;
text-decoration: underline;
text-decoration: line-through;
color: red;
Letter from William Henry Seward to Frances Miller Seward, December 19, 1834
action: sent
sender: William Seward
Birth: 1801-05-16
Death: 1872-10-10
location: Albany, NY
receiver: Frances Seward
Birth: 1805-09-24
Death: 1865-06-21
location: Auburn, NY
transcription: gew
revision: ekk 2015-08-21
<>
Page
1
Friday morning Dec. 19th
My dearest Frances, I find it utterly impossible to keep up with the resolution of writing to you as often
and as fully in this city as I am accustomed to in other places. Jenning
is such that I have had to yield to his importunity
This detains me about two hours each morning. In the determination to obtain for you the mini-
ature upon with you have “set you heart” as you say I have an engagement for the residue of the
short day, until the dinner hour. Jennings has had the influenza since I came to town, and
I make him a daily visit. When 3 or a half past 3 arrives I go bout to dine and of course
we sit until a late hour. On Wednesday I dined with Patterson
spent the evening at a party at Col Stones
the Senator and I spent a very pleasant evening at William Kent’s. One can eat only one
dinner a day and being previously engaged at Van Schaaicks I disappointed two dinner par-
ties intended to include me, one at James G. Kings
Thus far I am left with the hope of dining at home to day and spending the evening at
Jennings, tomorrow we have a dinner here, and I am to visit Chancellor Kent in the evening.
Monday is the New England dinner at which they wish me to attend as a guest. I have been
pressed to accept the compliment of a public dinner for Tuesday the last day of our stay
in town. I have half consented provided it shall be converted into a private dinner and
every thing in relation to it be excluded from the newspapers. Dearest I give you this history
of my dissipation
than it does me, and although I am deeply sensible of and grateful for the respect and at-
tention which I meet every where I assure you my heart does not enter into it nor is suffi-
cient to make me vain or proud. I am in good faith hurrying to get through with the duty
you imposed upon me and looking with solicitude for the lost hour of my separation from
my dear boys and you. I have bought the comb for which you wrote, and having given
you this miserable apology for a long letter, I break off because the hour for sitting
at the painter’s has arrived. I send the letter in this state because I have no hope
of being able to finish it. I had hoped to receive another letter from you this morning
but it has not come. I am anxious to see whether I shall not have it in my power to
procure something for you. Your own Henry.
Page
2
Friday morning Dec. 19th
My dearest Frances, I find it utterly impossible to keep up with the resolution of writing to you as often
and as fully in this city as I am accustomed to in other places. Jenning
Birth: 1793-08-23 Death: 1841-02-24
’s hunger for family picturesis such that I have had to yield to his importunity
To request with urgency; to urge with frequent or unceasing application • Pressing in request; urgent; troublesome by frequent demands • Unseasonable •
to sit to Mr Spencer
Birth: 1788-01-08 Death: 1855-05-17
for a full size portrait.This detains me about two hours each morning. In the determination to obtain for you the mini-
ature upon with you have “set you heart” as you say I have an engagement for the residue of the
short day, until the dinner hour. Jennings has had the influenza since I came to town, and
I make him a daily visit. When 3 or a half past 3 arrives I go bout to dine and of course
we sit until a late hour. On Wednesday I dined with Patterson
Certainty: Probable
Kent
Birth: 1802-10-02 Death: 1861-01-04
& Hoffman
Birth: 1793-05-03 Death: 1856-05-01
andspent the evening at a party at Col Stones
Birth: 1805
. Yesterday Cary
Birth: 1787-08-11 Death: 1869-06-20
and I dined with Van Schaaick
Birth: 1782-09-02 Death: 1865-12-01
the Senator and I spent a very pleasant evening at William Kent’s. One can eat only one
dinner a day and being previously engaged at Van Schaaicks I disappointed two dinner par-
ties intended to include me, one at James G. Kings
Birth: 1791-05-08 Death: 1853-10-03
, the other by the boarders at this house.Thus far I am left with the hope of dining at home to day and spending the evening at
Jennings, tomorrow we have a dinner here, and I am to visit Chancellor Kent in the evening.
Monday is the New England dinner at which they wish me to attend as a guest. I have been
pressed to accept the compliment of a public dinner for Tuesday the last day of our stay
in town. I have half consented provided it shall be converted into a private dinner and
every thing in relation to it be excluded from the newspapers. Dearest I give you this history
of my dissipation
To scatter; to disperse; to separate into parts and disappear • To expend; to squander; to scatter property in wasteful extravagance • To scatter the attention •
without enlarging upon it because I know it will not interest you morethan it does me, and although I am deeply sensible of and grateful for the respect and at-
tention which I meet every where I assure you my heart does not enter into it nor is suffi-
cient to make me vain or proud. I am in good faith hurrying to get through with the duty
you imposed upon me and looking with solicitude for the lost hour of my separation from
my dear boys
Birth: 1830-07-08
Death: 1915-04-25
Birth: 1826-10-01
Death: 1876-09-11
you this miserable apology for a long letter, I break off because the hour for sitting
at the painter’s has arrived. I send the letter in this state because I have no hope
of being able to finish it. I had hoped to receive another letter from you this morning
but it has not come. I am anxious to see whether I shall not have it in my power to
procure something for you. Your own Henry.