Letter from Frances Miller Seward to William Henry Seward, February 11, 1837
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Letter from Frances Miller Seward to William Henry Seward, February 11,
1837
transcriber
Transcriber:spp:alc
student editorTranscriber:spp:mep
Distributor:Seward Family Digital Archive
Institution:University of Rochester
Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections
Date:1837-02-11
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Letter from Frances Miller Seward to William Henry Seward, February 11, 1837
action: sent
sender: Frances Seward
Birth: 1805-09-24
Death: 1865-06-21
location: Auburn, NY
receiver: William Seward
Birth: 1801-05-16
Death: 1872-10-10
location: Westfield, NY
transcription: alc
revision: ekk 2015-06-02
<>
Page
1
Sunday Feb. 11th
My Dearest Henry,
I received your letter from Batavia
yesterday morning, was glad to hear you were well
and had a prospect of a comfortable journey. Dreading
to be left to myself I commenced my school the day
after your departure, the little boys are very much
pleased. I teach them four hours, two in the morning
and two in the afternoon. Augustus finds his studies
so much more agreeable now that they are explained
and made interesting that he says he “rather go
to Ma’s school than to play”– Fred is so ambitious
to excel that he requires no stimulating, they read
write, spell, recite lessons in geography, arithmetic
twice a day the last half hour in the afternoon
I read and explain to them the elements of History
and require them to answer such questions as I think
suited to their comprehension. This arrangement
occupies so much of my time that the days have
passed off very well, the nights are more tedious, my
sleep is troubled with all manner of hideous dreams
I awake almost every hour during the night, watch
the window for the first beam of light and rise
from my bed unrefreshed. O if I could only dream
of my precious babe
and beauty, that horrible disease does so haunt me[ . ]
Reason:
Do not allow this to distress you, time will make
it all smooth again, but it is such a satisfaction
to tell you just how I do feel.
Page
2
Dear Mrs Horner
new dress which I sent her a few days before. I believe she
went away reconciled after I told her it was to evince
my affection not to cancel an obligation that I sent it
that kind offices like hers admitted of no compensation.
Eliza
Miller
sent for Clara
and take tea with her. All complied with the
invitation but myself, my headache (which has been unre-
mitting for the last four days) detained me at home.
Augustus arrayed himself in his new habilaments
and felt very much like a man. Freddy employed
his time in searching into the mechanism of Mrs
Millers timepiece and thermometer, wondered why she
did not regulate the former it being 15 minutes to fast
enquired if they ate on that little table when she had
parties. Augustus came home before tea because he
thought I would be lonesome. Pa
every night to hear the boys read, sometimes sleeps
on the sofa if there are no girls in the room.
The girls have spent all their leisure time in selecting
each a new calico
infinite number of samples and assisting in numerous
consultations I have at length purchased for them.
I am happy to inform you that Laura
cloak which has occasioned her mother so much
trouble. Friday I received a letter of condolence
from Florida which I think must be from your mother
though she neglected the signature, it was addressed
to us both, says nothing of the family and as I am
Page
3
unacquainted with her writing I dare not answer
it until you have seen it. I will send it
to you, though from its tenour I have little doubt
that it is from her. Lazette
you were there. I suppose you arrived at your
other home last evening. I wrote yesterday to
H. Weed
face is nearly well. The boys send love. Remember me
to Uncle Cary
Page
4
h
AUBURN
Feb. 13
N.Y.
Type: postmark
William H. Seward
Westfield
Chautauque County
h
F. A. Seward
Feb 11, 1837
Sunday Feb. 11th
My Dearest Henry,
I received your letter from Batavia
yesterday morning, was glad to hear you were well
and had a prospect of a comfortable journey. Dreading
to be left to myself I commenced my school the day
after your departure, the little boys
Birth: 1830-07-08
Death: 1915-04-25
Birth: 1826-10-01
Death: 1876-09-11
pleased. I teach them four hours, two in the morning
and two in the afternoon. Augustus finds his studies
so much more agreeable now that they are explained
and made interesting that he says he “rather go
to Ma’s school than to play”– Fred is so ambitious
to excel that he requires no stimulating, they read
write, spell, recite lessons in geography, arithmetic
twice a day the last half hour in the afternoon
I read and explain to them the elements of History
and require them to answer such questions as I think
suited to their comprehension. This arrangement
occupies so much of my time that the days have
passed off very well, the nights are more tedious, my
sleep is troubled with all manner of hideous dreams
I awake almost every hour during the night, watch
the window for the first beam of light and rise
from my bed unrefreshed. O if I could only dream
of my precious babe
Birth: 1836-08-25 Death: 1837-01-14
once as she
was in healthand beauty, that horrible disease does so haunt me[ . ]
Supplied
Do not allow this to distress you, time will make
it all smooth again, but it is such a satisfaction
to tell you just how I do feel.
Dear Mrs Horner
Birth: 1780 Death: 1856-12-09Certainty: Probable
came
here Thursday to scold me about thenew dress which I sent her a few days before. I believe she
went away reconciled after I told her it was to evince
my affection not to cancel an obligation that I sent it
that kind offices like hers admitted of no compensation.
Eliza
Birth: 1788 Death: 1878-07-02
and Debby called the same afternoon. MrsMiller
Unknown
took tea with us Wednesday, Thursday shesent for Clara
Birth: 1793-05-01 Death: 1862-09-05
myself and the 2 boys to come overand take tea with her. All complied with the
invitation but myself, my headache (which has been unre-
mitting for the last four days) detained me at home.
Augustus arrayed himself in his new habilaments
and felt very much like a man. Freddy employed
his time in searching into the mechanism of Mrs
Millers timepiece and thermometer, wondered why she
did not regulate the former it being 15 minutes to fast
enquired if they ate on that little table when she had
parties. Augustus came home before tea because he
thought I would be lonesome. Pa
Birth: 1772-04-11 Death: 1851-11-13
comes in almostevery night to hear the boys read, sometimes sleeps
on the sofa if there are no girls in the room.
The girls have spent all their leisure time in selecting
each a new calico
Plain white cloth made from cotton, but which receives distinctive names
based on quality and use • Printed cotton cloth •
dress which after looking on aninfinite number of samples and assisting in numerous
consultations I have at length purchased for them.
I am happy to inform you that Laura
Unknown
has completed the
cloak which has occasioned her mother so much
trouble. Friday I received a letter of condolence
from Florida which I think must be from your mother
Birth: 1769-11-27 Death: 1844-12-11
though she neglected the signature, it was addressed
to us both, says nothing of the family and as I am
unacquainted with her writing I dare not answer
it until you have seen it. I will send it
to you, though from its tenour I have little doubt
that it is from her. Lazette
Birth: 1803-11-01 Death: 1875-10-03
wrote the day
after you were there. I suppose you arrived at your
other home last evening. I wrote yesterday to
H. Weed
Birth: 1819-02-06 Death: 1893-11-01
. Clara has just come home from
church her face is nearly well. The boys send love. Remember me
to Uncle Cary
Birth: 1787-08-11 Death: 1869-06-20
if he is with you, your own Frances.h
Unknown
18 2/AUBURN
Feb. 13
N.Y.
Stamp
William H. Seward
Westfield
Chautauque County
h
Hand Shift
Birth: 1801-05-16 Death: 1872-10-10William Seward
Feb 11, 1837